By Brandon Kaufman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BEIRUT, Lebanon– Nabih Berri, a Parliament Speaker in the Lebanese government, urged France to take a “firm stand” to stop Israel from launching an attack on Lebanon.  “In view of its ties and influence, we demand France take a firm stand to prevent Israel from attacking Lebanon… and from turning Lebanon into an arena for regional proxy wars,” Berri said while visiting with Gerard Larcher, a member of the French Senate.

Berri’s statements come amid heightened concern over Israeli warnings that all of Lebanon, including the Lebanese Cabinet, would be targeted in the event of a Hezbollah attack on Israel.  In a poll conducted by ABC News, an overwhelming number of people feel that conflict with Israel is looming.  Despite such sentiments, neither side wants to be guilty of starting the next war, but people in Lebanon say tension is now so high that the smallest incident may trigger the start of hostilities.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri described Israeli threats and military activity as “escalating” and “really dangerous” in a recent interview.

Additionally, Syrian President Bashar Assad has said Damascus would back “the government and people of Lebanon against any possible Israeli aggression launched on Lebanon.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since sought to ease tensions, saying his country wants peace with all its neighbors.

Earlier this year, Netanyahu accused Beirut of allowing Hezbollah to smuggle weapons into Lebanon in “blatant violation” of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the summer 2006 war.  The Israelis fear Hezbollah’s growing arsenal of long range rockets.  Today, Hezbollah has somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000 missiles, many more than they had on hand when hostilities broke out during the summer war a few years back.  In light of the threat posed by Hezbollah, Israeli officials have warned repeatedly in recent weeks that any attack by that group will spark a tough response.

The 2006 war lasted for 33 days, and in the end there were over 1,200 casualties, many of which were civilians.

For more information, please see:

ABC News- Are Lebanon and Israel Headed for War– 15 February 2010

The Daily Star- Berri Urges France to Take a Firm Stand Against Israeli Aggression– 15 February 2010

AFP- Lebanese Army Fires on Israeli Fighter Planes– 14 February 2010