Barak admits Hezbollah gains in Lebanon

JERUSALEM, June 2 (UPI) -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak admitted Monday Hezbollah's show of force in Lebanon last month was an "achievement."

Barak, testifying before the Knesset's foreign affairs and defense committee, said the Islamic group's violent reaction against the Western-backed Lebanese government's moves to limit its power "constituted an achievement" for Hezbollah because of the constitutional changes that have emerged from it, Ynetnews reported.

At the same hearing, Barak also called for Israeli action to halt Iran's nuclear program, saying, "Israel must act in order to prevent the threat from being realized. There is a lot to do, and the last things that can help are talks and incitement."

Barak also praised the government's efforts to harass Arab "terrorists" in Gaza, saying, "more than 70 terrorists were killed in the past two months, and more than 300 in the past six months."

Ynetnews.com said Barak characterized the ruling Palestinian party Hamas as "under a lot of pressure."