Israel protests firing of Katyusha rockets from Lebanon
(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson)8 Jan 2009

The Israel Foreign Ministry today instructed its Ambassador to the United
Nations, Gabriela Shalev, to submit a letter to the UN Secretary General and
the President of the Security Council in the wake of the firing of rockets
from Lebanon this morning.

Ambassador Shalev noted in the letter that the firing of rockets constitutes
a gross violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701 and confirms
Israel's contentions regarding the availability and use of weapons in
southern Lebanon

Israel must protect its citizens from the growing threat of rockets being
fired by terrorist groups supported by Iran and the extremist axis, and the
shooting this morning reinforces Israel's demands to establish effective
mechanisms to prevent arms smuggling into Lebanon. The prevention of arms
smuggling - in Lebanon as in Gaza - is a vital element in achieving regional
stability, as expressed among others in Resolution 1701.

Israel views the Lebanese government as responsible for maintaining quiet in
southern Lebanon and from it, as well as for preventing the smuggling of
weapons into its territory.