Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said yesterday that there is no intention to end the military operation in Lebanon without removing Hizbollah's threat.

Peretz made the remarks during a meeting with European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who arrived in Israel after meeting with top Lebanese officials in Beirut to work for a diplomatic solution to the ongoing Israeli-Lebanese crisis.

Peretz told the EU envoy that "we wish to make it clear that we have no intention of ending this crisis and go back to living under the same reality."

"We are determined not to let Hizbollah gain control over southern Lebanon again and will certainly not allow their return to the Israeli border," said the defense minister.

While supporting Israel's demands of the release of the captured soldiers and the application of UN Resolution 1559, Solana branded Israel's response in Lebanon "disproportionate".

"This must be stopped, a solution must be found. That is why I am here. In order to talk with the leaders of the two sides and to find a way to stop the violence," said Solana.

Earlier in the day, during a news conference in Jerusalem with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Solana condemned the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hizbollah and implicitly called on Syria and Iran to help end the ongoing conflict.

Solana also met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert earlier on Wednesday and was due to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the evening.