Olmert: The war goes on, there is no ceasefire.
Olmert: The war goes on, there is no ceasefire.
August 1, 2006, 1:10 AM (GMT+02:00)
The war will end when the threat to the Israeli people ends and the kidnapped soldiers are returned. And we will win. This assertion by the Israeli prime minister drew applause from his audience of mayors and civic leaders of the beleaguered northern Israeli towns Monday, July 31. Talking to UK premier Tony Blair, Olmert said: It will be possible to implement a ceasefire but only after a multinational force is in place. He followed defense minister, Amir Peretz’s rejection of a ceasefire until Israel’s goals are achieved. Addressing the Knesset Monday, July 31, Peretz said, “A truce now would let the extremists raise their heads anew.” Israel will expand and strengthen its offensive against Hizballah in Lebanon, he said. In Beirut, Lebanese officials said Lebanon would accept nothing but an unconditional immediate Israeli ceasefire before any further discussions. Condoleezza Rice earlier said she believes a lasting ceasefire and a lasting settlement can be achieved this week by the UN. Speaking before departing Jerusalem for Washington, the US Secretary of State announced the UN will be asked to approve this week a comprehensive settlement based on a ceasefire, political principles for a long-term settlement and the authorization of an international force to help the Lebanese army keep the peace and maintain its authority in the whole of the country. DEBKAfile notes: Rice never once mentioned Hizballah or the two kidnapped Israeli soldiers in this regard because Hizballah does not accept to any of those points. Hizballah and other Lebanese militias now threaten to fight any international force setting foot in south Lebanon as they fought the US and French troops in Lebanon in 1983. Speaking before departing Jerusalem for Washington, the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced the UN will be asked to approve this week a comprehensive settlement based on a ceasefire, political principles for a long-term settlement and the authorization of an international force to help the Lebanese army keep the peace and maintain its authority in the whole of the country. She found broad agreement that armed groups should be prohibited in areas where the international force is deployed, an international boycott to prevent the delivery of weapons to that area, and the disarming by Lebanon of unauthorized groups. DEBKAfile notes: Rice never once mentioned Hizballah or the two kidnapped Israeli soldiers in this regard because Hizballah does not accept to any of those points. Before the Qana attack, France obtained Hassan Nasrallah’s consent to a ceasefire, provided Israel agreed to withdraw from the Shaaba Farms and hand the enclave to the UN. PM Ehud Olmert denied any such Israeli consent. However, it is no longer relevant. The Qana attack derailed the US-French initiative and the US secretary spent the night picking up the pieces for a new one. Hizballah and other Lebanese militias now threaten to fight any international force setting foot in south Lebanon as they fought the US and French troops in Lebanon in 1983. It is therefore hard to see how the new initiative Condoleezza Rice unveiled Monday morning, July 31, can take off any time soon. Very much up in the air are the format, armament and mandate of the stabilization force Rice proposed to be deployed up to the Israeli and Syria borders “to create a stable environment for US Security Council 1559 and the Taif Accord to be implemented.” For Hizballah, Syria and Iran, the unclarity and uncertainty give them a window to rebuild Hizballah’s damaged forces in time to sabotage any international force. The US secretary welcomed Israel’s agreement to a 48-hour pause in its air attacks and its 50-hour corridor for humanitarian purposes.
August 1, 2006, 1:10 AM (GMT+02:00)
The war will end when the threat to the Israeli people ends and the kidnapped soldiers are returned. And we will win. This assertion by the Israeli prime minister drew applause from his audience of mayors and civic leaders of the beleaguered northern Israeli towns Monday, July 31. Talking to UK premier Tony Blair, Olmert said: It will be possible to implement a ceasefire but only after a multinational force is in place. He followed defense minister, Amir Peretz’s rejection of a ceasefire until Israel’s goals are achieved. Addressing the Knesset Monday, July 31, Peretz said, “A truce now would let the extremists raise their heads anew.” Israel will expand and strengthen its offensive against Hizballah in Lebanon, he said. In Beirut, Lebanese officials said Lebanon would accept nothing but an unconditional immediate Israeli ceasefire before any further discussions. Condoleezza Rice earlier said she believes a lasting ceasefire and a lasting settlement can be achieved this week by the UN. Speaking before departing Jerusalem for Washington, the US Secretary of State announced the UN will be asked to approve this week a comprehensive settlement based on a ceasefire, political principles for a long-term settlement and the authorization of an international force to help the Lebanese army keep the peace and maintain its authority in the whole of the country. DEBKAfile notes: Rice never once mentioned Hizballah or the two kidnapped Israeli soldiers in this regard because Hizballah does not accept to any of those points. Hizballah and other Lebanese militias now threaten to fight any international force setting foot in south Lebanon as they fought the US and French troops in Lebanon in 1983. Speaking before departing Jerusalem for Washington, the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced the UN will be asked to approve this week a comprehensive settlement based on a ceasefire, political principles for a long-term settlement and the authorization of an international force to help the Lebanese army keep the peace and maintain its authority in the whole of the country. She found broad agreement that armed groups should be prohibited in areas where the international force is deployed, an international boycott to prevent the delivery of weapons to that area, and the disarming by Lebanon of unauthorized groups. DEBKAfile notes: Rice never once mentioned Hizballah or the two kidnapped Israeli soldiers in this regard because Hizballah does not accept to any of those points. Before the Qana attack, France obtained Hassan Nasrallah’s consent to a ceasefire, provided Israel agreed to withdraw from the Shaaba Farms and hand the enclave to the UN. PM Ehud Olmert denied any such Israeli consent. However, it is no longer relevant. The Qana attack derailed the US-French initiative and the US secretary spent the night picking up the pieces for a new one. Hizballah and other Lebanese militias now threaten to fight any international force setting foot in south Lebanon as they fought the US and French troops in Lebanon in 1983. It is therefore hard to see how the new initiative Condoleezza Rice unveiled Monday morning, July 31, can take off any time soon. Very much up in the air are the format, armament and mandate of the stabilization force Rice proposed to be deployed up to the Israeli and Syria borders “to create a stable environment for US Security Council 1559 and the Taif Accord to be implemented.” For Hizballah, Syria and Iran, the unclarity and uncertainty give them a window to rebuild Hizballah’s damaged forces in time to sabotage any international force. The US secretary welcomed Israel’s agreement to a 48-hour pause in its air attacks and its 50-hour corridor for humanitarian purposes.
posted by shummer60 at Monday, July 31, 2006
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