CBNNews.com - JERUSALEM, Israel - The Israeli Security Cabinet's announcement this week that Israel will hold Lebanon responsible for attacks by Hezbollah represents a significant policy change.

In the past, Israel has drawn a distinction between the Lebanese government and the Hezbollah terror organization.

But recent decisions by Lebanon's newly formed unity government grants authority to Hezbollah to continue its "military actions" against Israel.

Hezbollah blamed Israel for the assassination of arch-terrorist Imad Mughniyeh last February in Damascus, promising to avenge his death by targeting Israelis worldwide.

Defense department officials believe that holding the Lebanese government responsible for Hezbollah's attacks against Israel will help act as a deterrent against planned terror attacks, in Israel, Lebanon and abroad.

Source: Haaretz