August 2, 2010 - Naharnet - Israel Denies Hand in Hariri Killing: Entire Lebanon will Pay Dearly if Hizbullah Attacks Israel

Spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Ofir Gendelman denied any Israeli involvement the 2005 assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri.
"Talking about an Israeli hand in the assassination of Hariri is nonsense and based on the principle of a conspiracy," Gendelman said in an interview to be published Tuesday by the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai.

Excerpts of the interview were published on Monday.

"Everyone knows who was behind Hariri's assassination of Hariri. And Israel was never involved in this and it does not and will not interfere in Lebanese internal affairs," Netanyahu's spokesman stressed.

"Of course, circles who are spreading this word want to see Israel in the spotlight, or that the side which is behind the assassination wants to evade responsibility.

On the assassination of Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh, Gendelman confirmed that Israel "will take into account the possibility of Hizbullah assassinating a senior Israeli official, or an ambassador or an Israeli citizen abroad or kidnap an Israeli businessman or officer or a senior government employee abroad."

"This would be considered as a declaration of war, and we will take this threat very seriously."

Gendelman pointed to Israeli concerns over Hizbullah's military buildup, stressing that Israel is "not interested in waging war on Lebanon."

Regarding Hizbullah threats to bombard Israeli towns and the Jewish state's infrastructure, the spokesman warned that "all of Lebanon will pay dearly if Hizbullah attacks Israel."