Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Friday criticised Israel's "expansion" of its attacks on his country, saying they indicated a rejection of efforts to broker a truce after
more than a month of war.
Mikati's statement came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met visiting US officials to discuss a possible deal to end the war in Lebanon, reports AFP.
"The Israeli enemy's renewed expansion of the scope of its aggression on Lebanese regions, its repeated threats to the population to evacuate entire
cities and villages, and its renewed targeting of the southern suburbs of Beirut with destructive raids are all indicators that confirm the Israeli enemy's rejection of all efforts being made to secure a ceasefire," Mikati said.
The Lebanese premier added that Israel's diplomatic behaviour suggested it was rejecting a ceasefire.
"Israeli statements and diplomatic signals that Lebanon received confirm Israel's stubbornness in rejecting the proposed solutions and insisting on
the approach of killing and destruction," Mikati said in a statement.
Parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri also hit out at Israel, accusing it of squandering chances for a ceasefire.
"Israel has wasted... more than one real opportunity to secure a truce... and return calm and displaced persons to both sides of the border," he said in a statement carried by the official National News Agency.
Since fighting in Lebanon escalated on September 23, the war has killed at least 1,829 people in Lebanon, according to an AFP tally of health ministry figures.
On Wednesday, Mikati said US envoy Amos Hochstein had signalled during a phone call that a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war was possible before US elections are held next Tuesday.
The same day, Hezbollah's new leader Naim Qassem said the group would agree to a ceasefire with Israel under "appropriate and suitable" terms, but added that a viable deal has yet to be presented.
During talks on Thursday, Israeli leader Netanyahu told US envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk that any Lebanon deal must guarantee Israel's longer-term security.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
