Jerusalem, Sept 9 (ZEENEWS.COM) Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he hopes international naval forces arrive quickly to allow Israel to lift its blockade of Lebanon.

Israel lifted a nearly two-month air blockade of Lebanon yesterday, but said it would keep its seal on the country's port intact until international troops arrive.

"We decided today in coordination with the commander of the UN Troops in the Middle East ... not to lift the naval blockade in Lebanon at this stage until the naval forces that are slated to continue this closure in our place arrive," Olmert said in a statement issued by his office yesterday.

"I really hope that Italy's, France's and Greece's naval forces, which are going to continue the surveillance of the Lebanese ports in our place, will organize quickly and that we can pull back when they take up positions," he said. He spoke after meeting the visiting Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov.