MIDEAST: Israel's offensive on Hizbollah continues, as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert calls Lebanon's decision to deploy troops in the south an "interesting step"

Israel's offensive on Hizbollah continued into its 29th day on Tuesday (August 8, 2006) as Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Lebanon's decision to deploy 15,000 Lebanese troops in southern Lebanon was an "interesting step" which would be reviewed. "What I'm aware of is the statement made by the spokesman of the Lebanese government about the possible deployment of the 15,000 Lebanese soldiers in the south part of Lebanon. I'm not familiar yet with all the details and what is the assistance needed for the Lebanese army and would be the structure the forces that will join the Lebanese army and will be the strength of these forces and the make up of these forces and what are the other conditions, if there are any conditions, that are represented by the Lebanese government. So I think that the it will be fair to say that we studied this, it looks interesting, and we will examine it closely. We will take counsel with other parties that are interested in the situation and that are working towards the resolution of the United Nations and we will make up our mind about it," Olmert said. Olmert told a news conference that any Lebanese Army deployment in the south should be accompanied by a strong international force made up of combat units and that Hizbollah must be disarmed. He said his security cabinet would convene on Wednesday to discuss the possible expansion of Israel's military operations in southern Lebanon, calling the cessation of Hizbollah rocket attacks a key goal. Some 10,000 Israeli troops are battling Hizbollah fighters in the area. Arab nations will press the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to demand an immediate Israeli pullout from south Lebanon to make way for the Lebanese army in any resolution to end Israel's four-week-old war with Hizbollah. Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz has ordered the army to prepare for a possible move to the Litani River, some 20 km (12 miles) inside Lebanon, to push back Hizbollah rocket launchers. Olmert said Israel was waiting for a final draft of a U.N. resolution before taking a stand on the diplomatic efforts. "The faster we can leave south Lebanon, the happier we will be," he said. Meanwhile Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to dry his tears and do some work on Tuesday (August 8) as she addressed the Israeli parliament on Israel's stance in its 29-day-long war against Hizbollah fighters. "I also, Mrs. Chairman, saw yesterday (Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad) Siniora's crying and we all cry for our dead, either in public or not in public, but this is the place to tell him to wipe his tears and to begin acting in order to produce a better future, more of a normal future, first of all for the civilians for which he cries," Livni told parliament members. Siniora broke into tears twice on Monday (August 7) during an address to Arab foreign ministers in Beirut. Siniora was speaking about the civilians killed in Lebanon during the war when he started crying. The Lebanese leader called on Arab countries to help his nation. His speech was met with a round of warm applause. Israeli air strikes killed more than 50 people on Monday, making it one of deadliest days for Lebanon in the war. Lebanese Health Minister Mohammad Khalifeh said 925 people, mostly civilians, had been killed before Monday's casualties. Air raid sirens continue to sound in Israeli too in an area stretching from the Mediterranean to the Sea of Galilee, warning of incoming rockets. A rocket slammed into a building in the Christian Arab village of Fassuta lightly injuring residents. So far Hizbollah has fired at least 2,700 rockets at Israel.

ITN Source | August 8, 2006

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