CBNNews.com - JERUSALEM, Israel - Israel's Security Cabinet met Wednesday to discuss the "new reality" created by the Lebanese government's giving Hezbollah the authority to "liberate Lebanese territories."

At a briefing in early July, Cabinet ministers learned that Hezbollah has some 40,000 Iranian-supplied short-and long-range missiles, brought across the border from Syria. They were also told that Hezbollah has deployed around 2,500 plain clothes forces in southern Lebanon.

The latest development came with a new Lebanese government policy statement issued this week approving "the right of Lebanon's people, the army and the 'resistance' HEZBOLLAH to liberate all its territories," referring to the Shaba Farms area, which is part of the Golan Heights captured by Israel from Syria during the 1967 Six Day War.

Lebanon claims the area for itself and some leaders have warned it will be given to Lebanon one way or another.

The 30-member unity government is expected to approve the policy later this week.

Source: The Jerusalem Post