BERLIN

Germany on Wednesday criticized Israeli threats to annex southern Lebanon.

Berlin wants to stress that “an annexation of Lebanese territory by Israel would, of course, be contrary to international law and would not be accepted by the Federal Government,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Giese said at a media briefing in Berlin.

“What I can tell you is that we have noted these remarks by certain Israeli ministers ‌– one of whom you mentioned – with great concern,” he said, referring to Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

On Monday, Smotrich said Israel should extend its border with Lebanon up to the Litani River deep inside the country's south, as Israeli troops bombed bridges and destroyed homes in an escalating military assault.

Giese called on all parties involved “to return to the ceasefire and to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701.”