Israel accepts a unilateral suspension of its air strikes on S. Lebanon for 48 hours to allow for an investigation into the Qana attack
Israel accepts a unilateral suspension of its air strikes on S. Lebanon for 48 hours to allow for an investigation into the Qana attack
July 31, 2006, 4:51 AM (GMT+02:00)
Israel also agreed to coordinate with the United Nations to allow a 24-hour window for residents of southern Lebanon to leave the area if they wished. Israel’s air, sea and land corridors for humanitarian passage remain open. Lebanon police claim 54 civilians were killed in an Israel air attack of Qana. The Red Cross reports 28. US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said in Jerusalem that Israel reserved the right to “take action against targets preparing attacks against it” – in line with US policy that Israel has the right to defend itself. In other words, if Israel air surveillance detects Hizballah rocket launchers in action, its air force may attack them. Hizballah has not announced any corresponding suspension of its daily rocket attacks on Israeli civilian locations. DEBKAfile adds: The pause in Israeli air strikes comes at a convenient moment for Hizballah after those bombardments forced its 220mm rocket deployment which has plagued Haifa to regroup north of the Litani River. It means that Hizballah will be given the chance to move the rockets back into the south as well as bringing fresh fighters in free of air attack. During the 48-hour suspension, Israel’s military will complete its own investigation of the Qana attack and draw lessons. The United States welcomes Israel’s decision, secured by US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice before she returns to Washington Monday, July 31, and hopes it will help ease the suffering of the children of South Lebanon and their families. Earlier Sunday, The Lebanese government refused to hold diplomatic discussions with the US secretary without an immediate unconditional ceasefire by Israel. Rice who cut her mission short said she was saddened by the tragedy in Lebanon. Prime minister Ehud Olmert and chief of staff Lt. Gen Dan Halutz voiced deep regret at the tragic loss of life at Qana in a building that collapses after the Israeli air force struck Hizballah rocket sites. Halutz said Israel did not know there were civilians and children in the building and blamed Hizballah for using them as human shields. Olmert: This war was not started by us and we did not want it, but we will finish our counter-offensive until northern Israel is safe from Hizballah attack. He spoke of another 10 to 14 days. Hizballah religious leader Sheikh Nabulsi: If international troops come to South Lebanon, we will attack them in the same way as we fight Israelis.
July 31, 2006, 4:51 AM (GMT+02:00)
Israel also agreed to coordinate with the United Nations to allow a 24-hour window for residents of southern Lebanon to leave the area if they wished. Israel’s air, sea and land corridors for humanitarian passage remain open. Lebanon police claim 54 civilians were killed in an Israel air attack of Qana. The Red Cross reports 28. US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said in Jerusalem that Israel reserved the right to “take action against targets preparing attacks against it” – in line with US policy that Israel has the right to defend itself. In other words, if Israel air surveillance detects Hizballah rocket launchers in action, its air force may attack them. Hizballah has not announced any corresponding suspension of its daily rocket attacks on Israeli civilian locations. DEBKAfile adds: The pause in Israeli air strikes comes at a convenient moment for Hizballah after those bombardments forced its 220mm rocket deployment which has plagued Haifa to regroup north of the Litani River. It means that Hizballah will be given the chance to move the rockets back into the south as well as bringing fresh fighters in free of air attack. During the 48-hour suspension, Israel’s military will complete its own investigation of the Qana attack and draw lessons. The United States welcomes Israel’s decision, secured by US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice before she returns to Washington Monday, July 31, and hopes it will help ease the suffering of the children of South Lebanon and their families. Earlier Sunday, The Lebanese government refused to hold diplomatic discussions with the US secretary without an immediate unconditional ceasefire by Israel. Rice who cut her mission short said she was saddened by the tragedy in Lebanon. Prime minister Ehud Olmert and chief of staff Lt. Gen Dan Halutz voiced deep regret at the tragic loss of life at Qana in a building that collapses after the Israeli air force struck Hizballah rocket sites. Halutz said Israel did not know there were civilians and children in the building and blamed Hizballah for using them as human shields. Olmert: This war was not started by us and we did not want it, but we will finish our counter-offensive until northern Israel is safe from Hizballah attack. He spoke of another 10 to 14 days. Hizballah religious leader Sheikh Nabulsi: If international troops come to South Lebanon, we will attack them in the same way as we fight Israelis.
posted by shummer60 at Sunday, July 30, 2006
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