Lebanon opposed to UN draft resolution

AFP is reporting that the Lebanese cabinet has rejected the French/American draft resolution and that it has sent Lebanon's representative to the UN, acting Foreign minister Tarek Mitri, an amended text.

In an interview with LBC, Mitri said the Lebanese side is trying to introduce a few changes to the resolution to ensure it's not just "ink on paper", i.e. useless.

According to Mitri, the Lebanese government wants the resolution to:

• Call for an immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops and return of the refugees
• Place the Shebaa farms under UN control
• Stronger language on the issue of Lebanese prisoners in Israel

The resolution currently "reiterates support for the full respect of the Blue line" by both parties and the "territorial integrity of Lebanon" but does not explicitly call on Israel to withdraw its troops, which could be used by Hizbullah as a pretext to continue its attacks.

The United States reportedly wants "a halt to hostilities for a week during which the creation of an international force would be discussed while the Israeli army maintained its positions on the ground." This position was communicated to the Lebanese government by David Welch earlier today.

Another potential pretext the Lebanese government wants to see addressed in the resolution is the issue of the Shebaa farms. The draft resolution calls for the "delineation of the international borders of Lebanon, especially in those areas where the border is disputed or uncertain, including in the Shebaa farms area". The Lebanese government probably feels that it's been down that road before, and efforts to delineate that area have been sabotaged by the Assad regime and were addressed in resolution 1680, which was never implemented.

The third issue is that of the Lebanese prisoners. The minister said the language is too timid on this issue and wants Israel to agree to an exchange.

Hizbullah has already rejected any resolution not calling for an Israeli withdrawal. (LBC)

Here is the text of the draft resolution:

Draft UNSC resolution / Projet de résolution du Conseil de Sécurité

The Security Council,

PP1. Recalling all its previous resolutions on Lebanon, in particular resolutions 425 (1978), 426 (1978), 520 (1982), 1559 (2004), 1655 (2006) and 1680 (2006), as well as the statements of its President on the situation in Lebanon, in particular the statements of 18 June 2000 (S/PRST/2000/21), of 19 October 2004 (S/PRST/2004/36), of 4 May 2005 (S/PRST/2005/17) of 23 January 2006 (S/PRST/2006/3) and of 30 July 2006 (S/PRST/2006/35),

PP2. Expressing its utmost concern at the continuing escalation of hostilities in Lebanon and in Israel since Hizbollah's attack on Israel on 12 July 2006, which has already caused hundreds of deaths and injuries on both sides, extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons,

PP3. Emphasizing the need for an end of violence, but at the same time emphasizing the need to address urgently the causes that have given rise to the current crisis, including by the unconditional release of the abducted Israeli soldiers,

PP4: Mindful of the sensitivity of the issue of prisoners and encouraging the efforts aimed at settling the issue of the Lebanese prisoners detained in Israel,

OP1. Calls for a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in particular, the immediate cessation by Hizbollah of all attacks and the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations;

OP2. Reiterates its strong support for full respect for the Blue Line;

OP3. Also reiterates its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders, as contemplated by the Israeli-Lebanese General Armistice Agreement of 23 March 1949;

OP4. Calls on the international community to take immediate steps to extend its financial and humanitarian assistance to the Lebanese people, including through facilitating the safe return of displaced persons and, under the authority of the Government of Lebanon, reopening airports and harbours for verifiably and purely civilian purposes, and calls on it also to consider further assistance in the future to contribute to the reconstruction and development of Lebanon;

OP5. Emphasizes the importance of the extension of the control of the Government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory in accordance with the provisions of resolution 1559 (2004) and resolution 1680 (2006), and of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, for it to exercise its full sovereignty and authority;

OP6. Calls for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution based on the following principles and elements:
- strict respect by all parties for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Israel and Lebanon;
- full respect for the Blue Line by both parties;
- delineation of the international borders of Lebanon, especially in those areas where the border is disputed or uncertain, including in the Shebaa farms area;
- security arrangements to prevent the resumption of hostilities, including the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani river of an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Lebanese armed and security forces and of UN mandated international forces deployed in this area;
- full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords and of resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006) that require the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, so that, pursuant to the Lebanese cabinet decision of July 27, 2006, there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than that of the Lebanese state;
- deployment of an international force in Lebanon, consistent with paragraph 10 below;
- establishment of an international embargo on the sale or supply of arms and related material to Lebanon except as authorized by its government;
- elimination of foreign forces in Lebanon without the consent of its government;
- provision to the United Nations of remaining maps of land mines in Lebanon in Israel's possession;

OP7. Invites the Secretary General to support efforts to secure agreements in principle from the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel to the principles and elements for a long-term solution as set forth in paragraph 6 above;

OP8. Requests the Secretary General to develop, in liaison with key international actors and the concerned parties, proposals to implement the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, and of resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), including disarmament, and for delineation of the international borders of Lebanon, especially in those areas where the border is disputed or uncertain, including by dealing with the Shebaa farms, and to present those proposals to the Security Council within thirty days;

OP9. Calls on all parties to cooperate during this period with the Security Council and to refrain from any action contrary to paragraph 1 above that might adversely affect the search for a long-term solution, humanitarian access to civilian populations, or the safe return of displaced persons, and requests the Secretary General to keep the Council informed in this regard;

OP10. Expresses its intention, upon confirmation to the Security Council that the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel have agreed in principle to the principles and elements for a long-term solution as set forth in paragraph 6 above, and subject to their approval, to authorize in a further resolution under Chapter VII of the Charter the deployment of a UN mandated international force to support the Lebanese armed forces and government in providing a secure environment and contribute to the implementation of a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution;

OP11. Requests UNIFIL, upon cessation of hostilities, to monitor its implementation and to extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the safe return of displaced persons;

OP12. Calls upon the Government of Lebanon to ensure arms or related materiel are not imported into Lebanon without its consent and requests UNIFIL, conditions permitting, to assist the Government of Lebanon at its request;

OP13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council within one week on the implementation of this resolution and to provide any relevant information in light of the Council's intention to adopt, consistent with paragraph 10 above, a further resolution;

OP14. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Comments

[R]

Hi Abu Kais and readers,

I posted a commentary and analysis of the resolution and why it won't fly on my blog. please drop by and let me know what you think

[fubar]

The ball keeps moving so who knows in the end, but I seriously doubt any resolution calling for a withdraw of Israel before international troops arrive is going to fly.

If the Lebanese Army moved in in force I would be of a different opinion, however, that is just never going to happen. The Lebanese Army is not going to challenge Hezbollah without seriously armed international forces at their side.

[fubar]

What a grand charade on the world stage.

The US, Israel & Siniora chit chat for a week or two while the rockets fly and the bombs fall.

When the US, Israel & Siniora are very close to ending this conflict and disarming Iranian Hezbollah, enter France and Iran to drag out the talks and keep the rockets flying and the bombs falling.

Now France and the US agree on a draft resolution (I’m still not sure who France represents - Lebanon or Iran), so the Lebanese government has to have an objection while the rockets keep flying and the bombs keep falling.

As soon as any progress is made on that front, then Israel will have a problem which will have to be addressed, and the rockets will keep flying and bombs will keep falling.

I can see Russia having an objection somewhere down the road, just to keep the talking going and the rockets and bombs in motion.

Seems everyone is either an arms merchant (US, France, Iran, Russia) or otherwise has no interest in a “cessation of hostilities” (Israel, Lebanon, and Iranian Hezbollah).

The Lebanese government is either totally inept or playing their part beautifully. I will leave that for the Lebanese to decide.

[Hmmm]

i am not sure why the US wants an end to the hostilities. this is pretty good for the US government, and the american people are fairly apathetic about the region. A major conflict in the region may give the US enough of a plausible reason to abort the whole Iraq mess and come back home.

I do not understand why Israel cannot withdraw as part of the cease-fire? They have demonstrated both that (a) they can cross the border easily if needed and (b) their presence has no impact on HA's ability to launch rockets. Israel might as well leave Lebanon in the interest of peace.

[Ghassan Karam]

It is only to be expected that the draft of a resolution dealing with such a complicated issue is not going to survive intact. Since it is true that the devil is in the details each side will try to propose a few changes that will give its position more leverage and what is most important an easier selling job to its domestic constituency. What is dangerous during this process of negotiations is the need not to compromise on the basic and substantive issue that the resolution is attempting to address.

Many of the clauses regarding the timing , sequence and language dealing with secondary matters such as when to delineate and how soon to release prisoners can and must be overcome. Israel will be satisfied with a 200 mile buffer zone that is patrolled by some kind of an international force since that will effectively remove most, if not all of the threat posed bu HA rocketery and border infiltration. The issue for the survival of a sovereign Lebanese state is a completely different matter. Lebanon , if it does not get an explicit agreement to disarm HA, which it does not appear to be getting, is in essence abdicating its responsibilities as an independent state and will in effect become an extension of Iran governed and controlled by Iranian proxies. That must never be acceptable and if the Lebanese government agrees to such an arrangement then history will judge it as an accomplice in the demise of the state. There must be an inviolable clause in this resolution; HA must be disarmed.

[Rafy Diaz]

Hello from Caesarea Israel,

It seems the Lebanies people did not learned from civil-war, Lebanon-war and a like. Being proxy to Iran has caused destruction to your country - yet one more time. The UNSC is a way for a true future for us all in this region, and the Seniora government is still singing Hezbullah songs. I say grab it now, the following price will be MUCH greater, and you will acheive less.

--regards,
Rafy Diaz

[Hmmm]

Why do most Americans want to abandon middle east diplomacy? Simple- it is useless.

Lebanon is never going to be a democracy, nor is Iraq. The culture in that region does not esteem those values, prefers angry factionalism over tolerant cooperation, and is incapable of generating meaningful political involvement in the middle class.

Further capital or diplomatic investment in these failed states is unwarranted. Pay them for the oil in cash on the dock, and leave quickly. There is enough racial and religious tension in the region to fuel many centuries of killing and revenge killing and revenge for revenge killing.

Cash on the docks, turn away, and let the jews and arabs continue killing each other as a means of vindication and self-definition. Because that is what it is - self-definition through cyclical violence against everyone racially/ethnically/religiously different.

Tribalism. Died out in most regions around 600bc. But whatever, when the oil money runs out, Iran can ship HA polished rocks to throw, or wooden spears, or new curse words. Meanwhile, billions that could change the region in a positive fashion through medicine, education, economic investment... all those billions fall as ball-bearing wrapped explosives on Video stores and airports and already poverty stricken villages.

Pathetic.

[fubar]

hmmmm -

Not that I agree with your points, but as a follow up to them on the issue of religious tension....

(AP) A top Saudi Sunni cleric, whose ideas inspired Osama bin Laden, issued a religious edict Saturday disavowing the Shi'ite guerrilla group Hizbullah, evidence that a rift remained among Muslims over the fighting in Lebanon.

Hizbullah, which translates as "the party of God," is actually "the party of the devil," said Sheik Safar al-Hawali, whose radical views made the al-Qaida leader one of his followers in the past.

"Don't pray for Hizbullah," he said in the fatwa posted on his Web site.

The edict, which reflects the historical stand of strict Wahhabi doctrine viewing Shi'ite Muslims as heretics, follows a similar fatwa from another popular Saudi cleric Sheik Abdullah bin Jibreen two weeks into the conflict with Israel.

*****

Iranian Hezbollah is now the "party of the devil". I have to agree with him, but obviously not for the same reasons.

If Iranian Hezbollah ever finishes wiping Israel off the map, Saudi Arabia and the other Sunni countries are next in order of weakness (without Israel around, America falls way down on the list of priorities). And that is why the entire ME is staying out of this and is letting Israel go after Iranian Hezbollah.

[someone]

Is this a UN resolution ?i think it can be called an "israel" resolution ,this resolution contains "israel" demands to end its masacre ,nothing more, and simply Lebanon said no ,i will still resist.

I think "israel" should try disarmning the milishia by itself,and Lebanon should express its indepandance on the ground by continuing the resistance until total indepandance.

France have done anything but was an american agent in Lebanon,since Siniora refused to talk with Rice,and Welch went to inform the lebanese government about the american demands to stop the massacre .The US is holding the lebanese civilians and infrastructures hostages,if the government still refuse american demands ,then the US will punish it ,by leting "israel" kill more civilians or destroy everything ,including this government.

Then the government cant give up after all this killings and mass destructions,so it stand by the milishias side,the only way Lebanon can express its political independance i.e ,by resistance on the ground, US call this resistance rebelion.

[fubar]

Ghassan Karam,

"Lebanon,if it does not get an explicit agreement to disarm HA, which it does not appear to be getting, is in essence abdicating its responsibilities as an independent state and will in effect become an extension of Iran governed and controlled by Iranian proxies."

Why yes, that is exactly what is happening. Lebanon either will not or cannot disarm Iranian Hezbollah. Therefore, they are (or should be) counting on Israel to do most of the work for them. The problem is, no matter what is in the resolution, as soon as international troops arrive, no one has any further interest in the resolution because Israel is protected. So now Iranian Hezbollah cannot operate in a way to hurt Israel but Iranian Hezbollah is still Lebanon's problem. The real question is how is anyone going to disarm Iranian Hezbollah unless the Lebanese do it. Once Israel is protected, its an internal Lebanese problem, not an international problem. Mind boggling, isn't it.

When is Lebanon going to get it? Iranian Hezbollah is not a party to this agreement and is not subject to UN sanctions. Iranian Hezbollah is your problem, who do you think your going to get an "explicit agreement to disarm HA" from? Israel?

[someone]

What will happen if Lebanon reject this resolution ?

There will be an occupation of Lebanon like Iraq,then there will be another milishias fighting against this occupation ,it will be another Iraq,but near "israel", and talk about a protection for "israel" after that ...

US can call its troops from iraq ...to help Lebanon to build a free country with a new government ,that can be a good example of democracy for the region ,,Siniora will be judged by an american court like Saddam ,for rebelion ,then al Qaeda will send its millitants to Lebanon ,and the US will demand Syria and Iran to stop their support for the millitants in Iraq,i mean in Lebanon .

This senario ,is the goal of this war for Iran i think .

[fubar]

What will happen if Lebanon rejects this resolution?

Israel will continue to fight until it controls all of the land up to the Litani River. At some point Hezbollah will reach a point of no return and will either melt into the refugee population or flee to Syria (live to fight another day). Either way, Israel is happy. The trick is for Lebanon to let Israel keep pushing until that happens or until Hezbollah is substantially weakened to the point that Lebanon can deal with disarmament of Iranian Hezbollah. You will know when that happens. Nasrallah's pleas to the ME countries yesterday to use their influence for a cease fire means he is hurting. He needs a cessation of hostilities to re-arm. That is the point in the agreement about the arms embargo of Lebanon - Iran and Syria can be sanctioned for breaking a UN arms embargo - too bad that is in paragraph OP6 which is the stuff we agree we are going to talk about later for a real cease fire agreement.

Anyway, when Israel whips Iranian Hezbollah, then Lebanon and Israel march out together and enter a cease fire agreement setting forth all kinds of things they want to agree on, including all the bullshit that Lebanon wants in the agreement so that it can use it against Iranian Hezbollah politically (you know, we can't let you have arms, that would be a violation of the UNSC cease fire agreement for which we could be sanctioned, so as much as we would like to, we just can't do it).

Lebanon is negotiating with itself, trying to tie its own hands regarding Iranian Hezbollah. And Israel and US are complicit in the deal, in what may actually be a world first, Israel is actually willing to help Lebanon get rid of Iranian Hezbollah once and for all (Shebaa & prisoner exchange) not because they are nice guys but because it serves both their interests and Lebanon's interest. It's a win-win situation. The only problem is that Lebanon has to endure a lot of damage (and, yes, very sadly loss of life) for it to work. But at least as to the property damage, Lebanon already knows that the entire ME is waiting in the wings with an abundance of help for after the conflict is over. Then and only then will Lebanon have any chance at a real democracy and real state soveriegnty.

Like I said, the Lebanese politicians are either inept (if they really want hostilities to stop) or they playing their part beautifully (Iranian Hezbollah will not go along with this agreement).

But I do truly have questions about just who France is representing here. If France represents Lebanon, how come the US took the draft to Lebanon and not France?????

[Hmmm]

Fubar, what is so bad about Israel? Is it the land thing? Get over it; arabs sided with the nazis and the allies had refugees to house.

[Ghassan Karam]

In an earlier response to this post by Abu Kais, fubar makes an extremly insightful observation. What are the chances that Siniora, the US, France and Israel have been on the same page from the early days of the war and the disagreements concerning the UNSC resolution were part of an act that all players had agreed to earlier. The objective was to postpone the cease fire in order to weaken HA and make the issue of disarming them or at least setting up the 20 mile buffer zone more plausable. If there is truth to that then this would truly be one of the most diabolical schemes. But hey, it is possible because Israel gets the security on the lebanese border that it needs, the US weakens HA and as a result Hamas in order to restart the Palestinian Israeli discussions, France gets to be seen as the moderator and Lebanon hopes that it would be easier to handle a weakened HA. Is Siniora that shrewed? Nah.

[napolean]

I want some of what Ghassan is smokin'.

[fubar]

Is Siniora that shrewd? No way, but Shebaa farms was not his idea, that was given to him by Rice, he may have added the prisoners. I think R figured the Shebaa farms one out several days ago. By getting Israel to agree to remove the Iranian Hezbollah "popular" reasons for fighting, it makes it much easier to disarm them after Israel whips them.

Very shrewd, but not Siniora's idea - he may just be playing his part. I don't know under which thread now but a day or so ago (losing track of the days now), I posted about a live radio interview I heard with Rice. She was very optimist the US could work with Siniora and she said there were others but she did not name them. I was surprised at the time because she sounded so optimistic when things were looking so grim with the Lebanese govt. standing united with Iranian Hezbollah. But since then we have been getting these little leaks which are then confirmed that everyone is not so united, at least Iranian Hezbollah is not united with them.

It all makes sense.

[LebExile]

I dont see the Israelis or the Americans agreeing to a withdrawal before an international force comes in. If the Israelis withdraw before the fighting stops, then in some warped fashion, Hezbollah will claim this as a victory - they defeated Israel and got them to withdraw from Arab land. No one wants to give them this - and the Lebanese certainly will gain nothing from it.
Let the Lebanese see once and for all, it is negotiation and diplomacy that will solve their problems, not Hezbollah, Iran and Syria.
I support the draft UN resolution as it is, I also support the amendmants the Lebanese govt wants.
The main point I support is the disarming of the Iran thugs that claim to be a Lebanese resistance.
Unfortunately, Hezbollah would never agree to any ceasefire that will benefit the Lebanon and get the Hezbollah disarmed, because, ultimately, they dont work for Lebanon, they work for and are paid by Iran.
It is pointless to ask why the Lebanese dont realise this, but, the problem is that they do realise this and cant do anything about it. It is therefore upto the international community to rise up to the challenge, impose this ceasefire, disarm they Hezbollah forcefully, and develop the Lebanese army.
I am very optimistic about the UN draft - and see it as the last chance for Lebanon..

Finally, one more thing...

I ask that Hezbollah do not agree to a ceasefire, keep fighting, you are winning, Jihad Jihad Jihad...
Keep fighting and winning, and eventully when you are totally wiped out, Lebanon will win.

God Bless....

[fubar]

Iranian Hezbollah started this war (everyone agrees with that). Why would Israel agree to give up Shebaa after they were attacked and they have taken Lebanese ground. It makes absolutely no sense. Israel does not want a cease fire. If Lebanon could handle Iranian Hezbollah, Lebanon would be begging for a cease fire, not worrying about Iranian Hezbollah "popular" reasons for fighting. And I don't really care what any of you think about the "Israeli agression," Israel has been more than sufficiently restrained in this conflict. Israel could carpet bomb southern Lebanon if it wanted to and solve the problem. Instead it is dropping leaflets telling people to get out because they are coming in. Israel is trying to do everything possible to keep this between Israel and Iranian Hezbollah. And Lebanon just stands there watching. No country in the world would allow this "Israeli agression" without throwing their army into the mix, even if they knew all along it would lose. You have to go down fighting or you never had a right to exist anyway. Unless you were waiting for Israel to win and you would need your army then to enforce the peace. It is clear to anyone who actually looks, Israel is doing what Lebanon either couldn't or wouldn't.

[e]

One point to remember, HA may be willing to negotiate because of the issue of the refugees. Unlike the previous Israeli occupations, this time, until the occupation ends, no refugee will return. If HA is stubborn, they wil hurt mostly the people who support them. If you factor in the amount of damage inflicted to Shia villages, it seems to me that the Shia cannot continue supporting HA indefintely.

[fubar]

Good point about the refugees not continuing to support Iranian Hezbollah at some point, e.

Iranian Hezbollah cannot stop fighting as long as Israelis are inside Lebanon, no way can Nasrallah ever sell that as a victory. And there is no way Israel is going to leave until an international force shows up. And no international force will show up until there is a formal cease fire, not a cessation of hostilities. One of things we are going to talk about for the real cease fire is "the elimination of foreign forces (Israel) in Lebanon without the consent of its government." Israeli forces out, international force in.

[Lebexile]

Hopefully the Israelis do stay until the international forces come in and clean up the mess.
If anyting, Just curious to see how Nahasallah paints this as a victory - it may even be a Monet....

Regards and God Bless

[fubar]

Well, look here, now the Russians are not pleased....

(JPost) Senior government officials expressed satisfaction at the draft of the UN Security Council resolution on Lebanon Saturday night, saying it safeguarded a number of key Israeli interests - foremost that the IDF would remain in south Lebanon until an international force arrives.
....
Ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman made clear on Channel 2 that this proposal was just a draft based on an understanding between the US and France, that there was no agreement on the language at this stage and that many changes could be introduced. He added that the Russians were unhappy at being left out of the process.
....
Any deal will have to gain the acceptance of both Israel and Hizbullah, something that is expected to be difficult. Nevertheless, officials in Jerusalem said the US was expected to "deliver" Israeli approval, while the French would need to get Lebanese - and therefore Hizbullah - agreement.

Does it get any better than this?

The French have to deliver Lebanon (and Iranian Hezbollah). So again, how come the US took the draft to Beirut and not France?

[Nikita]

Hey,
I was wondering how I can get the "Relief Lebanon" button on my blog as well. Could you give me the html code please?

Thanks.

Keep up the good work.

[someone]

"Israel will continue to fight until it controls all of the land up to the Litani River. At some point Hezbollah will reach a point of no return and will either melt into the refugee population or flee to Syria (live to fight another day). Either way, Israel is happy. The trick is for Lebanon to let Israel keep pushing until that happens or until Hezbollah is substantially weakened to the point that Lebanon can deal with disarmament of Iranian Hezbollah. You will know when that happens. Nasrallah's pleas to the ME countries yesterday to use their influence for a cease fire means he is hurting. He needs a cessation of hostilities to re-arm. That is the point in the agreement about the arms embargo of Lebanon - Iran and Syria can be sanctioned for breaking a UN arms embargo - too bad that is in paragraph OP6 which is the stuff we agree we are going to talk about later for a real cease fire agreement."

Then the solution is to let the fighting continues .Then like you said after "israel" has reached the Litani river,THEN at that time we cant talk about a UN resolution but applying the old 1559,so where is all the problem ? if "israel" can apply this resolution by force,then let it be,but it should stop bombing the infrastructures,and let lebanese state help its citizens to survive the war,also it should let the lebanese state in peace,since it is not the declared enemy,"israel" should fight on ground the millitants in south Lebanon ,until it reachs the Litani river,after reaching this point it can negotiate with lebanese government directly to either put lebanese army instead of theirs OR calling internatioanl forces like you say.But for now,Lebanon dont like bombings from air and more destructions,because it is nonsense,"israel" should focus on the ground battles ,and if it wants the rockets to stop falling ,then it should stop air strikes,ALL the war now should be on the ground ,and this is also what Nasrallah want too.

[Hmmm]

Maybe the French could ease their immigration restrictions and let more of the refugees from Lebanon into their jobless French slums?

[Ghassan Karam]

I have just heard a journalist on CNN on "Reliable Sources" make a stupendous statement. He claims that many military analysts have told him that Israel has spared some HA capabilities on purpose so that they would use the firing of these rockets as an excuse for their continued attack. I do not know what to make out of that but I just wanted to pass the statemnt along for those that might have missed it. If there is any truth to this statement , and I would not be surprised if there is, then it is a further statement about the extent of cynicism to be found in all quarters.

[fubar]

No time for analysis now. So just this short comment...

One of the questions I have had since word of an agreement came out seems to have just been answered. This is not a Chapter 7 resolution. It is a Chapter 6 resolution.

If that is true, this just keeps getting better and better all the time.

[M. Simon]

The Hizbollah story of Qana is unraveling further.

A French language Lebanese publication, citing an unnamed source in Hezbollah, has claimed that the organization placed a rocket launcher on the roof of the notorious building in Qana to provoke an Israeli attack and brought invalid children inside to serve as victims and blacken Israel's name.

The wheels are coming off.

[Abu Kais]

I have never heard of this publication, M Simon.

[Achillea]

I have just heard a journalist on CNN on "Reliable Sources" make a stupendous statement. He claims that many military analysts have told him that Israel has spared some HA capabilities on purpose so that they would use the firing of these rockets as an excuse for their continued attack.

Ah, CNN. The Most Busted Name in News. (Or at least it used to be -- Reuters may well have taken the title now). Anyway ...

His nameless 'military analysts' are conspiracy-mongering idiots. As long as Hezballah keeps on trying to claim victory -- and Lebanon keeps on believing them -- this will continue. And, since Lebanon has now rejected the 'cessation of hostilities' proposal (after crying so very very piteously for weeks for someone to make it stop), Israel has a green light for the foreseeable future.

e pegged the key point. The refugees. Hezballah has made very big claims about being the defenders of them and their land. And where are they now? Living in other people's parks, warehouses, and spare rooms. Hez has made promises it cannot keep and the longer this goes on, the more obvious that will become.

[M. Simon]

Abu Kais were you refering to Libanoscope?

Here is their mission statement:

Bienvenue sur le site de LIBANOSCOPIE. Cet espace de libre opinion est dédié à toutes les personnes intéressées par une nouvelle vision du LIBAN. Les informations que nous publions sur ce site sont le miroir de notre société. Nous agissons en inter-activité avec tous ceux qui ont une nouvelle vision de ce merveilleux pays du Cèdre. Notre espace est ouvert à tous. Notre objectif est de montrer la face civilisée du LIBAN, tellement bafouée ces dernières années

My French is not so good but they say they want a new vision for Lebanon. Perhaps they are internet only.

BTW their reporting is corroborated in part by another French publication which earlier in the week quoted a French nurse who said the children were handicapped.

There is a link at my site.

[Hmmm]

Ghassan, your post about Israel potentially leaving rocket launchers active is interesting. It speaks to a number of possibilities... (1) this is intentional to continue the conflict, (2) Israeli soldiers are fallible, (3) some Israeli soldiers are corruptable, or (4) Israelis can really not stop the rockets.

no opinions on this one, but it is very interesting.