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News Items  Top Stories  News Briefs  Vatican  Origins  Africa  Headlines  Also Featuring  Movie Reviews  Sunday Scripture  CNS Blog  Links to Clients  Major Events  2008 papal visit  World Youth Day  John Paul II  For Clients  Client Login  CNS Insider  We're also on ...  Facebook  Twitter  RSS Feeds  Top Stories  Vatican  Movie Reviews  CNS Blog .  For More Info  If you would like  more information  about Catholic  News Service,  please contact  CNS at one of  the following:  cns@  catholicnews.com  or  (202) 541-3250 .  Copyright  This material  may not  be published,  broadcast,  rewritten or  otherwise  distributed,  except by  linking to  a page on  this site. .		CNS Story: LEBANON-MARONITE Jan-8-2009 (280 words) xxxi Rockets from Lebanon hit Israel after bishops warn war could spread By Doreen Abi Raad Catholic News Service BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNS) -- One day after Lebanon's Maronite Catholic bishops warned that Israeli-Palestinian violence in the Gaza Strip could spread to Lebanon, several rockets were launched from southern Lebanon into northern Israel. In a Jan. 7 statement at the end of their monthly meeting, the bishops said one of the dangers of the Gaza war "is that it spreads to other areas and countries, including Lebanon." "The massacres committed in Gaza," clearly visible in media coverage, "stir up anger in the souls for the cruelty they show," the bishops said. "This requires the condemnation of this war. An immediate end should be put to it by the U.N. Security Council. Wars in the past used to spare innocent children, and fights were limited to fighters and warriors." The bishops urged Lebanese citizens to be unified to face the dangers threatening them. "The split of the Lebanese into two bickering (political) teams is not a sign of good health, particularly when Gaza is ablaze and the fire could spread to its neighbors," the bishops said. On Jan. 8 at least three rockets were launched from southern Lebanon into northern Israel. Israel responded by firing five shells into southern Lebanon. The Lebanese government condemned the strikes against Israel, and a Lebanese Cabinet member belonging to Hezbollah, an Islamic political and paramilitary organization, said it was not behind the rocket attacks. Israel and Hezbollah fought a 34-day war in the summer of 2006 in which more than 1,200 Lebanese -- mostly civilians -- were killed. More than 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers, were killed in that war. END Copyright (c) 2009 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250