Israel monitors Lebanese election outcome

JERUSALEM, June 8 (UPI) -- Israel is closely monitoring the Lebanese general election results, which showed a win for the western-backed coalition over Hezbollah.

Media reports said preliminary results showed the coalition won 68 parliamentary seats against Hezbollah's 57,with the numbers expected to rise for the coalition when the final results are announced. Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora declared on local television it was an exceptional day for democracy.

Hezbollah is considered a terrorist group by Israel and the United States.

A statement released by Israel's Foreign Ministry said the political developments in Lebanon are being monitored with great interest by all states in the region as well as the international community. "It is incumbent upon any government that is formed in Beirut to ensure that Lebanon will not be used as a base for violence against the state of Israel and against Israelis," the statement read.

The foreign ministry called on the government of Lebanon to "act to strengthen the country's stability and security, to stop the arms smuggling into its territory and to implement the relevant Security Council resolutions.