2. These Hizbullah attacks constituted a flagrant and systematic violation of the 1996 Grapes of Wrath Understandings, involving the launching of attacks from within civilian villages in Lebanon.
3. The escalation in Lebanon created an atmosphere directly opposed to that required for the conduct of peace negotiations. The message thus communicated to the Israeli government and people is one of belligerency, rather than the confidence-building so needed for the peace process. Israeli public opinion, which widely supports the peace process, is, as a result, led to doubt that the other sides similarly aspire to peace.
4. The Israeli government has reiterated in every possible forum that the escalation in Lebanon is liable to endanger the peace process.
5. Yet, despite this, no restraining action has been taken by either the Lebanese or Syrian governments. On the contrary, the continuous flow of arms from Iran to the Hizbullah through Syria is by now common knowledge.
6. Terrorist groups throughout the world derive encouragement from the impunity of the repeated Hizbullah attacks.
2. Following a decision by the Israeli Cabinet on February 7, the Israeli air force attacked a Hizbullah arms depot and three infrastructure targets (electric power stations near Beirut, Baalbek and northern Lebanon).
3. The targets were chosen in order to both strike at Hizbullah and to make it clear to the Lebanese government that the price for its failure to restrain the Hizbullah carries a heavy price.
4. Hizbullah command posts and other terrorist targets are located within Lebanese villages. Israel chose not to strike at these targets in order not to cause injury to civilians - this despite the fact that Hizbullah has constantly made cynical use of the civilian Lebanese population as a living shield.
2. The Government of Israel will continue to defend the residents of northern Israel and will take the necessary measures in order to strike at terrorists and those who support and abet them.
3. Israel will retain its freedom of action and self-defense, and will take forceful action against those who try to harm the security and well-being of its citizens and soldiers.
4. The negotiations between Israel and Syria are currently in a state of uncertainty. The focus now must be on ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents of northern Israel while achieving calm in southern Lebanon.
5. Israel fully expects Syria to exert restraint upon the Hizbullah and their aggression. Should the peace talks with Syria be hindered or halted as a result of this aggression, the blame will fall squarely on Syria.
6. Israel is prepared to make tough decisions in order to achieve peace, but peace negotiations cannot succeed in the face of the intolerable escalation of terrorism and violence which we have witnessed in recent days.
These decisions were taken in the wake of the sharp escalation in Hizbullah attacks against the IDF and the SLA from within civilian Lebanese villages, constituting a flagrant and systematic violation of the Grapes of Wrath Understandings. These attacks have not been prevented by the Lebanese government or restrained by the Syrians.
The government of Israel will act with determination to defend the security and well-being of the residents of northern Israel and will take the necessary measures in order to strike at terrorists and those who send them.
2. The IDF Spokesman has stated that it was no longer possible to practice restraint in the face of escalating Hizbullah activity in southern Lebanon. The IDF will continue to act as required against the Hizbullah organization and those supporting and abetting it, and will continue to strike the terrorists wherever they may be, in order to protect the citizens of the Galilee and northern Israel and IDF and SLA soldiers. The IDF warns that any attack on Israeli territory will lead to the widening of the conflict and a severe response by Israel.