Thus far, I know that it calls for the existing UNIFIL contingent to be beefed up to 15,000 troops from its current 2,000 (I wonder which nations will contribute to this force, and whether it will be deployed along the Lebanese-Syrian border).
The resolution calls for a cessation of violence "at the earliest possible time." (what the hell does that mean? And how will it translate on the ground?)
It also calls for Israeli troops to withdraw from Lebanese soil, and tasks the UNIFIL contingent to monitor the withdrawal.
This development comes about just as Olmert decided to ramp up operations inside of Lebanon.
For a few hours today, disgust at the over-all situation was really starting to set in. It really appeared that all diplomatic efforts had failed, and that Hizballah and Israel were gonna go after each other for the rest of the foreseeable future.
I hope this glimmer of hope doesn't fade away.
Update: British Foreign Secretary (4:20 PM EST interviewed on CNN's Situation Room)
- We're not sure that all Perm. Mem. of Security Council are on board.
- We know that we, the French and the Americans are on board.
- We hope that the resolution will be passed tonight.
- The resolution is not a chapter seven, but it is 'very, very strongly worded' and clearly mandated
- The two forces (UN and Lebanese) will work together to 'assert Lebanese sovereignty' and to 'prevent arms reaching any third party within
- There is a very clear statement concerning prisoners held by Hizballah and
Update 3: Condi Rice Speaks To Wolf Blitzer
- Gov of Lebanon has let me know that Resolution will serve its interests
- The obligation to disarm Hizballah is not a job for the UN force. It is up to the Lebanese authorities to implement the Taif Accords and disarm all militias in
- Force will not allow a return to the status quo ante
- It will secure Borders and prevent arms from entering
- It will help the Lebanese Army secure South
- The force has a very firm mandate to defend itself and to defend its mandate
- No
41 comments:
gsh -observer, to me it looks like the US pushing was after the first few days, now they are pushed by Israelis and IDF, or maybe just making muscles in front of the diplomats in UN
The 2nd resolution dealing with the actual long-term solution of the conflict in a month, is actually realy good, because Israel doesn't care about Sheeba, but can't give them away now as a prize to HA
ronen,
spare us the "love" man. If what Israel is doing to Lebanon now is love, I wonder what you all would do if you hated us!
You can't just bomb people back to the stone age and say you love them!
Get this through your head man, continued military operations will convert all of Lebanon into "Hizballahis." There's only so much people can take before they crack!
The only way out of this mess is diplomacy. The military option has failed!
We are rough mucho lovers ;)
sorry no more jokes
+ Olmert urging govt. to accept the resolution
hell in which UN escorted civilian convoys are annihalated for some ephemeral reason that I simply fail to grasp!
That's the fog of war billowing. The same fog that kept us from knowing you were O.K. for a few days last month.
I'm honestly trying to understand something here, so please help. All I hear is how Hezbollah is not supported by the Lebanese people, yada yada. I get that. Here's my question. If Hezboah has no support from Lebanon, then who the heck is fighting in its army and launching the rockets? The head of Hezbollah himself?
My second question is, I think we can all agree on one fact, no matter how you feel it led up to or anything else. At some point Hezbollah attacked an outpost of Israel and kidnapped 2 soldiers. That's not a debatable fact, as Hezbollah itself admits to it. It appears to be of the opinion of most of you that war is not the answer. My question is honest and sincere. What were your expectations of what would happen after the kidnapping? Did you believe that Israel would say something like "That isn't nice. Please give us our troops back, or we'll have to try to negotiate with you?".
Oh, another question if I may. Another non-debatable fact is that warning pamphlets were dropped in Lebanon by Israel, warning people of the airstrikes. In the US we have some VERY liberal media stations, which present the news not in support of Israel. Even these news stations had video of some Lebanese people laughing at the warning pamphlets and not leaving. A while later, people in these areas were killed. Why didn't people evacuate from the area?
ronen, could you email me? I'd like to hear your thoughts on the conflict if I may.
chas, you must be confusing hasidic jes with someone else, there are braslav hasidic jews, that belive that the most important thing in life is to be happy, they are bringing speakers and stereo systems in front of the malls and they are just dancing to the sounds of trance, there is no hate in them
itai has the best solution. If Lebanon wants to keep Hezbollah in its country, fine. As long as it stays ONLY in its country. It leaves the country to ttack Israel, and this happens. Its like "Doctor everytime I hit my head on the wall, It Hurts". If Lebanon wants to keep Hezbollah IN its country, fine. If Hezbollah leaves Lebanon to attack Israel, this will happen again.
One month LATEr, UN Resolution 1701, but will it be respected?
The bookkeepers will say no. In Israel's short history, it has never respected one of 70 resolutions passed against its aggression. It has violated the UN resolutions each and every time, that is not to mention the UDHR and the Geneva Conventions.
sarah, geez sounds a whole lot like Resolution 1559, in which Lebanon failed to get Hezbollah out. As a matter of fact, they're in more now than before. By the way, the Geneva Convention doesn't apply to terrorists, nor does it ban war.
Al-Ghadabulsaati3 : if you realy want Seba Farms, you will get it, we don't need it, we want to give it to Lebanon so that HA won't have Legitimaton, but we can not give it as a prise for HA. As for the prissoners, they may be released to strenghten the lebanese goverment but not Samir Kuntar
Al Ghadab,
you said...
So what does Lebanon get out of this? A reprieve from the killing and destruction? Ridiculous!!
I say...
Shit!!!! Man.... How much more death do you want? Your whole country is on the verge of complete disintigration!
Loli said: "Let go of who is right or wrong. In the bigger scheme of precious life and survival, this is a good resolution. YOu won't get anything better. It took them a month to get there. I am not willing to wait another month for relatively pointless demands."
This is pure gold. Exactly correct.
Some people (like Ghadab) need to get their heads out of the sand and let go of what is starting to look more and like childish rethoric.
This is the real world. Pragmatism is the modus operandi here. Shebaa Farms and the 3 prisoners are not an existential issue for Lebanon, contrary to what someone like Nasrallah would have you believe.
This agreement unfortunately will not last longer than Olmert's term valued at about 3-4 months. If the resolution does not call for the immediate unconditional release of the Israeli soldiers; anyone who knows anything about Israeli politics knows that the Israelis will boot him out and bring someone who to them "will finish the job". That is the way it was after the Oslo accords when Netanyahu came to power. That is the way Sharon came to power after Barak. Whoever will be next will be ruthless because this will seem as a Hezbollah victory; something Israelis won't have and no matter what the costs are for both Israel and Lebanon.
Israel responded to an unprovoked attack by Hizbullah, right? Wrong
The assault on Lebanon was premeditated - the soldiers' capture simply provided the excuse. It was also unnecessary
George Monbiot
Tuesday August 8, 2006
The Guardian
when olmert was voted in i was very hopeful that israel had matured one step further and that "an ordinary citizen" was now able to refresh our ranks and run our affairs..
however - as history now has it.. olmert gave as an omlette in the face..
he scrambled in every front.. whether against the settlers when he removed outposts or in fighting the HA..
i am vastly disappointed and hurt by the pain his failed tactics have caused my entire region..
a ceasefire has indeed been declared a requirement of the UN but i hope the implementation doesnt get cocked up..
we have a chance here guys..
lets not waste it..
wishing us all peace soon..
lirun
barcelona
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
nice plan loli..
omer
i think it is naive to expect that a katyusha will never land again in the immediate future..
however i hope we have learned that a measured response whereby we engage the international community better is a good way to go..
we have soo much to learn from these events that it is unbelievable..
i have to add that while i am ashamed of my leaders i am enamoured by my soldiers that had no hesitation to endanger themselves for my safety..
wishing this never recurs
lirun
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
may our soldiers become as active as those at buckingham ;)
Mazdoc said we never liked Israel
Ahura Mazda...does Zaratustra have
the same opinion to you?...
i am a Greek..
i like Israel,i like Lebanon
Palestine...and i wish all the world
to get peace..
Blogging and talking
with other people
brings the peace more close..
Shalom..
Omer...is that an israeli name?..
Are you Arab from Isreal?...
Thank you for responding to me...
i d like to hear a lebanese opinion
too
:)
you´re all correct.. UN resolutions mean nothing.. the question is what to we - the people of the middle east - want.. what are we seeking and how do we want our future to be..
so you can sit at your computer all you like and tell me how this is all meaningless or you can go out and truly express your desire for peace to work..
if you feel that it is politically antisocial you can send an email or write a letter or start yet another blog.. but dont just sit there and complain and say it wont work even though you want it.. dont tell me how wrong you hope you are.. instead go out and support what you think is right!!
we are facin a historical moment.. ok ok.. we are facing our computer screens at the time of a historical moment (that is more accurate) but we all are just as much to blame if it doesnt unfold as we want it to..
speak up people.. today is only here once..
wishing us all peace and a bit more proactivity
lirun
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
we can reach it if we try
my name is israeli also
it has two parts
li - my and run (pronounced like running) which is a hebrew word for a particular kind of happiness that involves song..
in hebrew we have many many words that describe happiness and different kinds that are inspired in different ways.. most of these words are considered a bit biblical and the equivalent of our "shakespaerean".. i bet we have as many words for happiness as the eskimos have for snow.. if not more.. its a very important part of our culture..
they are used mostly in names - i hope one day their colloquial use is revived.. and their meanings become well known as we convert from having the reputation of a warrior nation and the world begins to know how much happiness we foster inside..
lirun,omer
1.Are there modernized
Rabbines and Mulahs
to make a common
demonstration-prayer for peace?....
Or there is no dialog
between the two religions
that share the same heritage
of Old Testament?...
@mazdoc the name you have
derives of
Ahura Mazda is the Avestan language name for an exalted divinity of ancient proto-Indo-Iranian religion that was subsequently declared by Zarathustra (Zoroaster) to be the one uncreated creator of all (God).
its amazing how quickly a small cloud can cover the vast blue of the skies
wishing us all peace soon
lirun
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
needing it more than ever
@Lirun ...News for you!...
i took it from http://hellenic-reporter.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, August 9th, 2006
Fmr. Israeli Air Force Captain Reports Israeli Pilots Deliberately Missing Targets Over Concerns of Civilian Casualties
shalom ergo te lina
i read the article..
it is impossible for me to tell if they are right or wrong but i am proud of them for being true to their morals..
this is for me the essence of the true israeli soldier - someone who is self questionning and compassionate..
i have added their organisation to www.emspeace.blogspot.com
wishing us all peace soon..
cheers ergo
lirun
from telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
even in the darkest places one can find light
@Lirun
i wonder if there is a Hezbullah
Katyusha-shooter that has refused
to bomb because he concerns
on human casualties..............
..................................
hahahahahhahahahahahahah
that is hilarious!!!
that would make a great comedy show - i dont think they would be in the HA if they were against the idea ;)
but it would be fascinated to hear otherwise..
in any event you have made me laugh from the depths of my stomach - god bless you
lirun
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
laughing is good for peace
sam
omer is not the only peaceful israeli..
there are many..
i dont wish for a wall between us.. i think a psychological wall has existed for too long.. this very wall has allowed both sides to ignore suffering on the other and act as if we were not neighbours but rather far away lands that existed in some other dimensions..
if this wall was removed and we finally acknowledged how significant the other is to our very existence perhaps then we could in fact live in peace instead of constantly sacrificing eachother´s security for are own tactical interests..
wishing you and us peace soon
lirun
from telaviv israel
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
tunnels of friendship
by the way thank you for providing your take on the operation
i must agree with you that the misinformation is rampant.. the military effort by both sides has three tiers: combat.. propaganda and the drafting of some crazy version of history that sits somewhere in the imagination of officers
To fgh
If this is the way you think, I think we should all keep track of this blog because we will meet here again in a few months time discussing "the situation". Of course by then Israel will probably be less trusting of the UN as Nasrallah will portray this as victory (victory - the utter devastation of one's own country. Source: Hezbollah twisted dictionary). I hope to god that Lebanon will take this opportunity to reign in its sovereignty or we'll be here again with much more devastating reactions. As for the so called diplomatic victory for Hezbollah, let's examine that:
The resolution calls for the unconditional release of the Israeli soldiers with no connection to the Lebanese prisoners problem.
The resolution puts the blame squarely in Hezbollah's hands.
The resolution calls on Israel to halt all OFFENSIVE operations. This means that if Hezbollah fires again, Israel may retaliate with a DEFENCIEVE reaction. Now this is where everything gets tricky and it is an Israeli diplomatic achievment - For the Israelis, this whole war was DEFENCIEVE!
so I hope you do not get your views from Hezbollah for then we are all doomed.
tears,
right or wrong, i think the reason the IDF is ramping up is because olmert is trying to save a little face by trying to take out as many HA as possible before the cease fire. afterall their goal all along was to disarm HA, which was shown to pretty much be impossible, without absolutely destoying ALL of lebanon.
just my take on this issue
praying for peace NOW
Sam
i understand your anger..i however am not angry so there is no anger for you to understand..
i am sad that we havent made different choices and by we i mean everyone..
at the same nevertheless i am hopeful that we shall all learn from this and i believe that we shall work harder for peace.. at least i know that i shall
wishing us all safer times soon
lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
enough already
To Tears for Lebanon
Just like the Israeli prisoners, the Lebanese ones have also been mentioned in the preemble but not as immediate release; but as an issue to be resolved. Perosnally I see a huge difference between the two cases. You cannot compare 2 soldiers who were abducted from the Israeli side of the border to a Lebanese like Samir Kuntar who VOLUNTARILY infiltrated Israel in Naharyia via the sea, killed a police officer, a father and his two daughters and then got caught. There is a price to pay and that is the base of a legal system as I am sure you would also agree.
However both cases of the prisoners appear in the preamble of the resolution and not in the operational part.
Finally with regards to the Sheba farms they are not Israeli but Israel will probably negotiate with whoever the UN decides is the owner of the land (Labanon\Syria). At the moment this is Syrian land according to the UN and Israel until Syria SIGNS otherwise as oppose to saying otherwise.
in relation to the prisoner exchange i would like for it to happen as follows.
Excuse me for any perception of bias.. but i think this is workable..
all prisoners be exchanged immediately into the custody of their country of origin on the basis that kuntar be judged under lebanese law as if his offences were committed on lebanese soil..
i think the morality and law of his own country should apply.. let us give the lebanese justice system a chance to demonstrate its principles..
wishing peace
lirun
telaviv
www.emspeace.blogspot.com
everything can be negotiated
Your sources appear to be better than mine. I do not understand what 18 soldiers are you talking of? So far no Israeli kidnapees have been reported in the fighting. If you are refering ot the Hezbollah fighters caught by Israel (such as the one in the video they released) then I think they can be released. There is no need for Israel to hold them to prove its point that HZ started it all. They are POWs, not like Kuntar.
As for the Israeli offenisve before the ceasefire, it is a well knnown fact that the Israelis do not trust the UN and have probably came up with this plan about two weeks ago when no end was in sight. The ceasefire enters its validity on Monday at 7 am... I hope it will last
For an agreement with Nasrallah
one should know his secrets
and his profile.
"Arab World Finds Icon
in Leader of Hezbollah"
Neil MacFarquhar
The New York Times
Monday, August 7, 2006
he also — very unusually — cracks jokes.
Prof. Nizar Hamzeh, who teaches international relations at the American University of Kuwait and has written a book on Hezbollah, recalled a Nasrallah speech from last year, given while Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in the region. A helicopter happened to clatter overhead at some point while he was criticizing United States meddling, and the sheik quipped, “You might be able to catch a glimpse of her now; I hope she sees us as well.” The crowd roared.
He has never pushed hard-line Islamic rules like veils for women in the neighborhoods that Hezbollah controls, which analysts attribute to his exposure to many of Lebanon’s 17 sects.
Born in 1960 in Beirut, Sheik Nasrallah grew up in the Karanteena district of eastern Beirut, a mixed neighborhood of impoverished Christian Armenians, Druse, Palestinians and Shiites.
His father had a small vegetable stand, but the 1975 eruption of the civil war forced the family to flee to their native southern village.
Is that true what i heard...
cease-fire!
from 8 am today morning?...
Everything under peace?....
Both sides say that have won!....
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