Lebanon air blockade lifted, port seal remains
Israel’s air blockade of Lebanon ended today, bringing relief to Lebanese people whose importing of goods has been blocked for almost 2 months.
However, Israel maintained its seal on the country’s port amid a wave of opposition in Israel against lifting the restrictions.
The continuing of the sea blockade was a last minute change, after Israel announced a day earlier that it would end the entire cordon. Israeli officials said today that the naval blockade will continue until a UN force can take over.
Indicating the resumption of normal air traffic, a commercial flight by Lebanon’s national carrier Middle East Airlines circled over downtown Beirut three times, minutes after the embargo ended at 3pm, in a ceremonial show.
The plane, coming from Paris, then landed at Beirut’s airport. It taxied down the runway as someone in the cockpit waved a large red-and-white Lebanese flag, with its distinctive green cedar tree emblem, out of a window. It was followed by a Kuwait Airways plane, which also hung a Lebanese flag out its cockpit window.
It was a moment of joy for the Lebanese, who complained that the blockade crippled their country. Business leaders said it cost Lebanon about £27m (€39.8m) a day.
The Israeli government was buffeted by anger from the military and the families of two captured Israel soldiers, whose abduction by Hezbollah guerrillas sparked the 34-day offensive against Lebanon.
They argued that the end of the blockade would open the doors to Hezbollah weapons shipments and took away leverage for winning the soldiers’ release.
Israel had refused to lift the restrictions until an international force could guarantee Hezbollah would not be rearmed by weapons smuggling but Israel announced yesterday it would end the air and sea blockades after assurances from the US that international forces were ready to help monitor the air- and seaports.
Germany is to post customs and border police experts at the Beirut airport to help monitor traffic through the facility to ensure no weapons movements. German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived today with the first group of experts to consult with Lebanese authorities.
German naval forces are also to patrol the coast to prevent weapons smuggling. The ships were expected to arrive off Lebanon within two weeks, and until then Italian, French, British and Greek warships will patrol.
