Ramon: Hezbollah is 'wary' of retaliation

JERUSALEM, April 3 (UPI) -- The Israeli vice premier said Hezbollah is "wary of avenging" the death of its leader Imad Mugniyah due to Israel's surprising moves in the Second Lebanon War.

Vice Premier Haim Ramon said Thursday at a gathering with Tel Aviv officials that "Hezbollah is wary of avenging the assassination of its commander Imad Mugniyah because they discovered during the Second Lebanon War that they cannot predict Israel's response to their actions."

Concerning the mounting "cold escalation" with the northern front of Israel, Ramon said, "Israel's ability to negotiate with Syria is very limited, if at all existent, at the moment. It is very difficult to withdraw Syria from the axis of extremism, because the Golan Heights are not sufficient incentive for Syria to sacrifice its alliance with Iran and the control that it harbors over Lebanon."

Ramon added that Damascus "has made a strategic choice" and places more importance on keeping peace with Iran and Hezbollah than Israel, Ynetnews reported Thursday.