Saturday, August 12 2006 14:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Israel will carry on its military offensive against the Hezbollah for as long as it takes to clear the group from southern Lebanon and neutralise threats posed by it, says the Israeli Ambassador to India, David Danieli.

"From here, we go to the endgame. Our goal is to clear Hezbollah bunkers and infrastructure from Lebanon," Danieli said in an interview. "We will continue our operations to cripple and neutralise Hezbollah with an eye on a diplomatic and political solution.

"It might take time. We are not counting hours and months. We will go on for as long as it takes," Danieli sources when asked how long Israel's strikes would continue against the Hezbollah that started a month ago in response to the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers.

The diplomat is, however, convinced that any ceasefire is "not a stand alone solution" and nothing short of the effective liquidation of the Hezbollah would persuade Israel to bring 'Operation Change of Direction' to a close.

"Bringing the operation to a premature end will cost us dearly. Israel wants comprehensive, durable political security."

Danieli advocates an adequately mandated multinational force, as opposed to the current UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), to disarm the Hezbollah, in line with the UN resolution 1559. "We are not for a UNIFIL-type mandate. It's a mere observer on the scene.

"The new multinational force must neutralise the Hezbollah threat and see to it that this formidable military machine armed with sophisticated missiles and rockets will not be able to regroup again.

"We have to ensure that the Hezbollah fighters are not replenished by their mentors: Iran and Syria," he said.

Israel has already launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon even as the US and France work on two UN resolutions seeking a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and for the establishment of a peacekeeping force.

Israeli forces have created a seven-kilometre buffer zone in south Lebanon to protect Israeli citizens from rocket attacks by the Hezbollah. It may extend the zone in the days to come.

"Israel has invested billions of dollars in bomb shelters. We are aiming at security and safeguarding of citizens. We are not here to create a new Lebanese order or a new order in the Middle East," the Israeli envoy asserted.

Nearly one million Israelis are said to be taking refuge in bomb shelters to protect themselves against rocket attacks by the Hezbollah.

The diplomat said the offensive against the Hezbollah has popular backing in Israel. He stressed that the Hezbollah had miscalculated and underestimated the resolve of Israel to avenge the kidnapping of its two soldiers.

"People of Israel are strongly behind the government. Israel has acted in a mode of operation that was not envisioned by Hezbollah, Iran and Syria.

"There will be no return to status quo ante regarding the security situation along the internationally recognised border with Lebanon," Danieli stressed.