ISRAEL'S blitz on Lebanon could spell disaster for the country's efforts to rebuild after decades of war and foreign invasion. The message for Beirut is that if it does not rein in Hizbullah's guerrillas it will suffer a lot of pain - and no one who matters will feel sorry for it, diplomats in Beirut said.
Syria, Lebanon's main ally, also faces punishment if it fails to play a part in controlling the Hizbullah - a message Israel drove home yesterday with rocket attacks on a Syrian army post in Beirut.
However, the Lebanese Prime Minister, Mr Rafik al-Hariri, said: "Our position is clear: Let them [the Israelis] withdraw and we will take responsibility for security in the south. We will not clash with the resistance, namely Hizbullah, as long as the occupation of our land continues.
Diplomats said they expected the United States to exert diplomatic pressure on Beirut and Damascus to do something about Hizbullah or face the consequences.
What I think they will tell Lebanon is do you really want the end of your reconstruction programme, because you are begging for it by your inaction against Hizbollah'," one said.