Israel lifted its blockade of Lebanese airports on Thursday at 6 P.M., but the planned end to a seige on sea ports has been delayed by 48 hours. "The aerial blockade has been removed. In coordination with the United Nations, the naval blockade will continue until the international naval force is in place," said Miri Eisin, spokeswoman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Israel said the United Nations was still working out logistical issues, and they expected the problem to be resolved within 48 hours.
"What starts at 6.00 p.m. is a gradual process, it could take hours or a day (to complete)," Eisen said earlier.
Despite lifting the air blockade on Lebanon, Israel said it reserved the right to attack suspected Hizbullah arms convoys on the Lebanon-Syria border. "Israel is keeping its right to self-defense and will implement the embargo along the Syrian-Lebanese border," Eisin told Agence France Presse. When asked if that meant Israel would attack suspected Hizbullah arms convoys, Eisin said "yes."
As the deadline for the end of the blockade approached on Thursday, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Beirut for "urgent talks" with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora.
The Lebanese Finance Ministry estimated Thursday that the initial cost of the blockade would come to around $45 million a day. "The direct impact of the blockade on trade activity alone is estimated at around $45 million a day," Finance Minister Jihad Azour told reporters.
"The impact goes further than this in terms of tourism activity, several other sectors and finances."
