Breakthrough in talks over cease-fire resolution; Security Council

Expected to meet Friday.

France expects cease-fire resolution agreement soon

Lot's of mush-mouth talk, I remain skeptical. There do seem to be some signs of sanity in it, comparing with the previous version.

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The resolution will stop short of requiring peacekeepers to disarm Hezbollah but will call for an embargo to prevent the group from bringing in arms from Iran and Syria, a senior Israeli official said on Thursday.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the resolution would also call for creation of "an emboldened UNIFIL", the UN force currently in Lebanon and long derided by Israel as ineffective.

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The official added that the resolution, aimed at ceasing a month of fighting between Israel and Hizbollah, would also include "an embargo that will prevent the supply of arms to Lebanon that are not for the Lebanese army."

The revised draft calls for a "progressive" Israeli withdrawal, a senior Lebanese political source said on Thursday.

Certainly wouldn't want a "regressive" withdrawal now, would we?

Haaretz

...UNSC resolutions, or will it actually honor a cease fire resolution?

Check out what the statements by Israel's Defense Minister. They're at the bottom of the article:



Where I placed the emphasises demonstrates to me where Israel will seek an out of the UN Resolution, while stalling for time to reaccess the horrific tangle they got themselves into. It is doubtful the UN would want to go about disarming Hezbollah, and it is also doubtful the Lebanese army both has the capacity, or even the will at this point to do so. Israel knows this.

Israel.

Will it be fine for Iran and Syria to continue to arm Hezbollah though?

You didnt mention that, I assume you think they should stop that also

It seems to address the major points both sides have made. Hezbollah ain't going to disarm, but an embargo on arms sales seems reasonable. They can get light weapons easily, but no more missiles, which is the main point. Sounds very promising.

That in itself indicates something is up. It's hard to be sure yet, but it sounds like the Israelis are looking for an out, and it sounds like this might be something Lebanon would accept. The devil is in the details. Keep your fingers crossed.

Israel may be gearing up for escalation

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060810/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_israel_949

Lebanon - Israel took control of the strategic southern hub of Marjayoun on Thursday and warned that its fight against Hezbollah could grow wider and more severe if diplomacy fails.

Israeli leaders have authorized a major new ground offensive going deeper into Lebanon but have held off to give international negotiators more time.

With clear signals indicating that Israel already was gearing up for a major push northward, Israeli warplanes blanketed downtown Beirut with leaflets threatening a "painful and strong" response to Hezbollah attacks.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz also said the military would use "all of the tools" to cripple the Islamic guerrillas if U.N. efforts toward a cease-fire pact collapse.

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