A Lebanese army officer shows Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam an Israeli military position on the horizon, in the southern village of Khiam near the border with Israel. AFP
Salam's visit came two days after his government won a vote of confidence in parliament, where members of Hezbollah’s bloc voted in favour of the new administration's policy statement, although it said that only the national army has the right to defend the country in case of war.
“This is the first real working day of the government. We salute the army and its martyrs,” Salam said in the southern port city of Tyre while meeting residents of the border village of Dheira.
“We promise you a safe return to your homes as soon as possible.” The government is committed to the reconstruction of destroyed homes, which “is not a promise but a personal commitment by myself and the government,” Salam added.
Israel refused to withdraw all invading troops from southern Lebanon and said it planned to keep hold of five strategic locations inside Lebanon, violating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that took effect on Nov. 27 and ended the war.
Israeli troops had started withdrawing from some border villages, but they seemed poised to stay in key areas, a Lebanese security official said hours after the ceasefire expired.
Official burials
Salam said his government is gathering Arab and international support in order “to force the enemy to withdraw from our occupied lands and the so-called five points.” “There is no real and lasting stability without full Israeli withdrawal,” he said.
Israel’s war on Lebanon has killed more than 4,000 people and displaced over 1 million at the height of the escalation, with more than 100,000 still unable to return home. On the Israeli side, dozens were killed and around 60,000 remain displaced.
On Friday, the remains of scores of Lebanese temporarily buried during the war were taken to the border village of Aitaroun for an official burial.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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