PARIS, Jan 5: Leading Lebanese politician Saad Hariri on Monday dismissed concerns that Hezbollah guerillas might seize upon the fighting in Gaza to renew attacks on Israel’s northern border.

“Yesterday, Hezbollah said that they would do nothing. I think that’s a good thing for Lebanon,” said Hariri, who is leader of the biggest parliamentary bloc in Lebanon’s ruling anti-Syrian coalition.

“Lebanon’s political parties know well what would be the consequences of a war with Israel today. We can see what is happening in Gaza and I’m sure that Hezbollah will make no bad mistake this time,” he said.

Hariri was speaking in Paris, after having lunch with Prime Minister Francois Fillon at a time when France is engaged in a diplomatic campaign to rally international support for a renewed ceasefire in Gaza.

In August 2006, Israel invaded southern Lebanon and bombed targets in Beirut after a cross-border raid by the Hezbollah militia.

The fighting lasted for 34 days and left 1,200 Lebanese and 160 Israelis dead.

Hezbollah, a Syrian and Iranian-backed Shiite militia, has described Hamas’ Palestinian fighters as its “brothers in arms” and its leader Hassan Nasrallah has called for a new uprising against Israel.—AFP