Thursday, 10 August 2006, 12:10 GMT 13:10 UK
The UN's top humanitarian official has criticised Israel and Hezbollah for hindering access to southern Lebanon, calling this a "disgrace".
Jan Egeland said both sides could give aid agencies access in a "heartbeat". "Then we could help 120,000 people in southern Lebanon," he said.
The comments came amid continuing clashes in the area, near Marjayoun.
Israeli planes have dropped leaflets on southern Beirut, warning residents of three districts to leave immediately.
More than 1,000 Lebanese, most of them civilians, have now been killed in the hostilities, their government has said. More than 100 Israelis, most of them soldiers, have also been killed.
CRISIS in the MIDDLE EAST
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Defiant Nasrallah rallies support
Thursday, 10 August 2006, 10:04 GMT 11:04 UK
By Magdi Abdelhadi
Arab affairs analyst, BBC News
Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has given a defiant speech in which he said his guerrillas would turn south Lebanon into a graveyard for the invading Israeli troops.
There were no surprises in the speech, broadcast on Hezbollah's al-Manar television on Wednesday.
Like previous speeches since the conflict began nearly a month ago, the aim was to boost morale, rally support and challenge the Israelis.
But the timing was significant, because it came only hours after the Israelis announced that their army would expand its ground offensive.
Message for Israelis
Sheikh Nasrallah spoke calmly and confidently, as the confrontation with Israel was about to enter a critical stage.
The televised address was clearly designed to send a message to the Israelis and the wider world - namely that Hezbollah remained a coherent, strong and unbroken organisation.
He urged the Lebanese to remain steadfast and united in the battle against Israel, and warned the Lebanese government against making any concessions to Israel and America.
He endorsed a government plan to send 15,000 Lebanese soldiers to the south.
But he repeated his opposition to the idea of sending international troops to the border region to disarm Hezbollah, as demanded by the Israelis and by a draft UN resolution sponsored by the French and the Americans.
He said the aim behind the UN resolution was to enable Israel to achieve by diplomatic means what it had failed to achieve on the battlefield.
Sheikh Nasrallah said his guerrillas were still strong and ready to take on the Israeli army when it pushed deeper into Lebanon.
By Magdi Abdelhadi
Arab affairs analyst, BBC News
Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has given a defiant speech in which he said his guerrillas would turn south Lebanon into a graveyard for the invading Israeli troops.
There were no surprises in the speech, broadcast on Hezbollah's al-Manar television on Wednesday.
Like previous speeches since the conflict began nearly a month ago, the aim was to boost morale, rally support and challenge the Israelis.
But the timing was significant, because it came only hours after the Israelis announced that their army would expand its ground offensive.
Message for Israelis
Sheikh Nasrallah spoke calmly and confidently, as the confrontation with Israel was about to enter a critical stage.
The televised address was clearly designed to send a message to the Israelis and the wider world - namely that Hezbollah remained a coherent, strong and unbroken organisation.
He urged the Lebanese to remain steadfast and united in the battle against Israel, and warned the Lebanese government against making any concessions to Israel and America.
He endorsed a government plan to send 15,000 Lebanese soldiers to the south.
But he repeated his opposition to the idea of sending international troops to the border region to disarm Hezbollah, as demanded by the Israelis and by a draft UN resolution sponsored by the French and the Americans.
He said the aim behind the UN resolution was to enable Israel to achieve by diplomatic means what it had failed to achieve on the battlefield.
Sheikh Nasrallah said his guerrillas were still strong and ready to take on the Israeli army when it pushed deeper into Lebanon.
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theone666
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Text: Hezbollah leader defiant
The leader of Hezbollah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, broadcast an extended address on Wednesday 9 August. These are excerpts from his television address.
I address you anew as we approach the end of the first month of this barbaric and aggressive war which the Zionists imposed on Lebanon and on every human being, stone, location, and symbol in Lebanon...
When the prime minister presented the seven-point plan and was discussed in the government, we dealt positively with this plan... The Lebanese Government proposed a seven-point plan, but the Americans and the French responded with the draft resolution that has been submitted to the Security Council.
The least that can be said about this draft resolution is that it is unfair and unjust and gives the Israelis more than what they wanted or asked for... this draft resolution in essence wanted to give the Israelis through politics and international pressures what they failed to obtain through fighting.
The government's decision on its preparedness to send 15,000 soldiers from the Lebanese Army to be deployed in all this area will greatly help Lebanon and its friends to press for amending the draft resolution, which is being prepared and debated at the Security Council, and will open the way for an appropriate political treatment that can lead to halting the aggression against Lebanon.
... This [planned deployment] is, in our opinion, an honourable, national solution because it is the national army that will be deployed on the border, and not invading forces, mercenary forces, or forces that take orders from the enemies, but the national army that takes orders from the elected Lebanese Government - in this sense, as a solution, we accept it...
The deployment of the Lebanese Army will help preserve sovereignty and independence. This is a better and a more appropriate alternative to the deployment of international forces, especially since we do not know which orders they follow or what their mission or duty will be.
Here, I come to the field developments in the ongoing war. In the last televised speech, I said that the enemy will resort to, in light of the continued military failures, further attacks against the infrastructure, civilian installations, and civilians. This is exactly what has been taking place; namely, more massacres...
The killing of civilians, including men, women, and children, is taking place deliberately since it is the only painful method available to this military helpless and bloodthirsty enemy to put pressure on the Lebanese, the resistance, and the state.
In addition, there is continued targeting of residential places and systematic destruction of houses and buildings in the southern suburb. For instance, there are vacant buildings, but everyday they come to demolish a number of these buildings. Are these not war crimes? Is not the killing of children and women a war crime? Is not the demolition of vacant buildings that are distant from the battlefield and that are not used in any way and have nothing to do with Hezbollah's leaders and fighters considered a war crime? This is in addition to the continued destruction of what remains of the Lebanese infrastructure.
Does anyone believe that all these bridges, roads, and infrastructure were destroyed only to cut off the resistance's supply lines? Is this a logical and reasonable matter or the goal is to destroy the infrastructure to exercise pressure on the Lebanese? The killing of civilians aims to put pressure on the Lebanese and the destruction of houses aims to put pressure on the Lebanese so as to surrender, yield to, and accept the Israeli conditions on the basis of which the war was originally waged.
As a matter of fact, it is very regrettable and unsurprising that the Security Council's draft resolutions hold no blame for the Zionists over all their war crimes, massacres, acts of genocide in Lebanon, and systematic destruction of Lebanon. The capture of two Israeli soldiers in a purely military operation deserves all this condemnation and denunciation by the international community, whereas the response which destroyed buildings, killed people, and violated all laws and norms does not deserve any blame.
... We are still holding fast in the field. We are still strong and capable. This, in itself, is a great achievement for the resistance and a big failure for the enemy in achieving the targets they announced with regard to the resistance. We are still fighting in the front villages and frontline. Although, we do not intend to retain territory, the hero and valiant resistance men insist on continuing to fight until the last bullet.
Imagine that fighting is continuing in the border town of Ait al-Shaab until this minute. The same thing is happening in other border towns. Your sons and brothers among the mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance are in fact making miracles there and setting an example of heroic and brave jihad that is unprecedented in history.
So far, a large number of Merkava tanks have been destroyed. This point is important. Over 60 Merkava tanks and a large number, scores of military bulldozers and scores of military personnel carriers have been destroyed so far. More than 100 tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and military bulldozers have been destroyed until this hour.
I will not speak about the killed and wounded among the settlers [Israelis], but I will speak about the officers and soldiers. So far, more than 100 officers and soldiers have been killed and more than 400 officers and soldiers have been wounded in the confrontations, dozens of them are in critical condition, as admitted by the enemy itself. This concerns the ground confrontation.
As for the rocket bombardment, the activity of the resistance is still the way it was in the first days. When Olmert said that Hezbollah was no longer the way it was, your sons and brothers, the mujahideen of the resistance, answered him by 350 rockets, which fell on various Zionist military bases and colonies in northern occupied Palestine [Israel].
Until this moment, the enemy has failed to reduce or weaken this rocket capability that is available to Hezbollah and the resistance. Consequently, the residents of these areas have remained in shelters and a large number of them have left. This is in addition to significant economic, material, financial, and human losses, which the enemy is still hiding.
Notice that throughout the previous Arab wars, the Israelis used to declare their losses, while the Arabs used to hide them. But today, when Lebanon is bombed, buildings are destroyed, martyrs fall, massacres are committed, despite the negative psychological impact of these scenes sometimes, everything is declared. The Zionists, meanwhile, are hiding everything. Where do hundreds of rockets fall? So far, they have spoken about more than 3,000 rockets that have fallen on them. We assert to you that these rockets are guided by God and are guided technically and are not fired indiscriminately.
In all events, the Israelis have so far not managed to control the border strip, which they said they want to go back to, as the case was previously¿ Nonetheless, I tell the Zionists: You can come to any place; you can stage an incursion; land your airborne troops; and enter this village or that point.
However, all of this will cost you a great deal. You will not be able to stay on our land. If you enter it, we will drive you out by force. We will turn the land of our precious south into a graveyard for the Zionist invaders.
To the Arabs of Haifa I have a special message. I say that we have been pained and are still pained for the loss of your martyrs and for your wounded. I urge you, I appeal to you to leave this city. I hope you would do that. In the past, your presence there and what happened to you has made us hesitate in attacking this city... Please spare us this hesitation and spare your blood, which is our blood, and leave this city.
I address you anew as we approach the end of the first month of this barbaric and aggressive war which the Zionists imposed on Lebanon and on every human being, stone, location, and symbol in Lebanon...
When the prime minister presented the seven-point plan and was discussed in the government, we dealt positively with this plan... The Lebanese Government proposed a seven-point plan, but the Americans and the French responded with the draft resolution that has been submitted to the Security Council.
The least that can be said about this draft resolution is that it is unfair and unjust and gives the Israelis more than what they wanted or asked for... this draft resolution in essence wanted to give the Israelis through politics and international pressures what they failed to obtain through fighting.
The government's decision on its preparedness to send 15,000 soldiers from the Lebanese Army to be deployed in all this area will greatly help Lebanon and its friends to press for amending the draft resolution, which is being prepared and debated at the Security Council, and will open the way for an appropriate political treatment that can lead to halting the aggression against Lebanon.
... This [planned deployment] is, in our opinion, an honourable, national solution because it is the national army that will be deployed on the border, and not invading forces, mercenary forces, or forces that take orders from the enemies, but the national army that takes orders from the elected Lebanese Government - in this sense, as a solution, we accept it...
The deployment of the Lebanese Army will help preserve sovereignty and independence. This is a better and a more appropriate alternative to the deployment of international forces, especially since we do not know which orders they follow or what their mission or duty will be.
Here, I come to the field developments in the ongoing war. In the last televised speech, I said that the enemy will resort to, in light of the continued military failures, further attacks against the infrastructure, civilian installations, and civilians. This is exactly what has been taking place; namely, more massacres...
The killing of civilians, including men, women, and children, is taking place deliberately since it is the only painful method available to this military helpless and bloodthirsty enemy to put pressure on the Lebanese, the resistance, and the state.
In addition, there is continued targeting of residential places and systematic destruction of houses and buildings in the southern suburb. For instance, there are vacant buildings, but everyday they come to demolish a number of these buildings. Are these not war crimes? Is not the killing of children and women a war crime? Is not the demolition of vacant buildings that are distant from the battlefield and that are not used in any way and have nothing to do with Hezbollah's leaders and fighters considered a war crime? This is in addition to the continued destruction of what remains of the Lebanese infrastructure.
Does anyone believe that all these bridges, roads, and infrastructure were destroyed only to cut off the resistance's supply lines? Is this a logical and reasonable matter or the goal is to destroy the infrastructure to exercise pressure on the Lebanese? The killing of civilians aims to put pressure on the Lebanese and the destruction of houses aims to put pressure on the Lebanese so as to surrender, yield to, and accept the Israeli conditions on the basis of which the war was originally waged.
As a matter of fact, it is very regrettable and unsurprising that the Security Council's draft resolutions hold no blame for the Zionists over all their war crimes, massacres, acts of genocide in Lebanon, and systematic destruction of Lebanon. The capture of two Israeli soldiers in a purely military operation deserves all this condemnation and denunciation by the international community, whereas the response which destroyed buildings, killed people, and violated all laws and norms does not deserve any blame.
... We are still holding fast in the field. We are still strong and capable. This, in itself, is a great achievement for the resistance and a big failure for the enemy in achieving the targets they announced with regard to the resistance. We are still fighting in the front villages and frontline. Although, we do not intend to retain territory, the hero and valiant resistance men insist on continuing to fight until the last bullet.
Imagine that fighting is continuing in the border town of Ait al-Shaab until this minute. The same thing is happening in other border towns. Your sons and brothers among the mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance are in fact making miracles there and setting an example of heroic and brave jihad that is unprecedented in history.
So far, a large number of Merkava tanks have been destroyed. This point is important. Over 60 Merkava tanks and a large number, scores of military bulldozers and scores of military personnel carriers have been destroyed so far. More than 100 tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and military bulldozers have been destroyed until this hour.
I will not speak about the killed and wounded among the settlers [Israelis], but I will speak about the officers and soldiers. So far, more than 100 officers and soldiers have been killed and more than 400 officers and soldiers have been wounded in the confrontations, dozens of them are in critical condition, as admitted by the enemy itself. This concerns the ground confrontation.
As for the rocket bombardment, the activity of the resistance is still the way it was in the first days. When Olmert said that Hezbollah was no longer the way it was, your sons and brothers, the mujahideen of the resistance, answered him by 350 rockets, which fell on various Zionist military bases and colonies in northern occupied Palestine [Israel].
Until this moment, the enemy has failed to reduce or weaken this rocket capability that is available to Hezbollah and the resistance. Consequently, the residents of these areas have remained in shelters and a large number of them have left. This is in addition to significant economic, material, financial, and human losses, which the enemy is still hiding.
Notice that throughout the previous Arab wars, the Israelis used to declare their losses, while the Arabs used to hide them. But today, when Lebanon is bombed, buildings are destroyed, martyrs fall, massacres are committed, despite the negative psychological impact of these scenes sometimes, everything is declared. The Zionists, meanwhile, are hiding everything. Where do hundreds of rockets fall? So far, they have spoken about more than 3,000 rockets that have fallen on them. We assert to you that these rockets are guided by God and are guided technically and are not fired indiscriminately.
In all events, the Israelis have so far not managed to control the border strip, which they said they want to go back to, as the case was previously¿ Nonetheless, I tell the Zionists: You can come to any place; you can stage an incursion; land your airborne troops; and enter this village or that point.
However, all of this will cost you a great deal. You will not be able to stay on our land. If you enter it, we will drive you out by force. We will turn the land of our precious south into a graveyard for the Zionist invaders.
To the Arabs of Haifa I have a special message. I say that we have been pained and are still pained for the loss of your martyrs and for your wounded. I urge you, I appeal to you to leave this city. I hope you would do that. In the past, your presence there and what happened to you has made us hesitate in attacking this city... Please spare us this hesitation and spare your blood, which is our blood, and leave this city.
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Day-by-day: Lebanon crisis - week five
Thursday, 10 August 2006, 14:46 GMT 15:46 UK
A day-by-day look at how the conflict involving Israel and Lebanon is unfolding in its fifth week.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle ... 776627.stm
Thursday, 10 August 2006, 14:46 GMT 15:46 UK
A day-by-day look at how the conflict involving Israel and Lebanon is unfolding in its fifth week.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle ... 776627.stm
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Push for Lebanon agreement at UN
World powers are stepping up efforts at the UN to reach agreement on a Security Council resolution aimed at ending violence in Lebanon and Israel.
A meeting of key Security Council members ended without agreement late on Thursday. More talks are due on Friday.
However Russia says a deal may be a long way off and it plans to table a separate draft calling for a three-day truce for humanitarian purposes.
The UN moves came as Israel resumed its bombing raids over Lebanon.
At least seven civilians were killed in a raid in Akkar province near the Syrian border, while an area of southern Beirut was bombed early on Friday.
Fighting is also continuing between Israeli forces and Hezbollah guerrillas near the Israeli border in southern Lebanon.
There are reports that an Israeli soldier has been killed in the village of Labuneh.
Lebanese objections
Israel says plans agreed on Wednesday for an extended ground assault in south Lebanon are on hold to give diplomacy a chance.
There is still no agreement at the UN on a resolution calling for an end to the fighting.
Lebanon demands an immediate ceasefire and a quick Israeli withdrawal.
Israel says it will fight until new foreign troops and the Lebanese army move in - a position which Washington has supported.
On Thursday officials expressed optimism that a deal on the wording of a resolution might be reached soon.
The deal is understood to centre on introducing Lebanese troops into the border region, strengthening the existing UN force, Unifil, and giving it a tougher mandate.
At the same time, the text would call on Israel to begin a phased withdrawal.
However the Lebanese government - which includes Hezbollah - appears to be objecting to a strengthened mandate allowing UN troops to use force.
A meeting of the five permanent members of the Security Council late on Thursday failed to produce agreement.
'Unhelpful'
UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett flew to New York, saying she would "reinforce Britain's efforts to reach agreement".
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy are also expected.
Russia, meanwhile, said it was introducing its own draft resolution on a three-day humanitarian truce.
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said this was because there was no deal in sight.
"War is raging in Lebanon and the humanitarian situation is getting catastrophic," he said.
However the Russian idea of was rejected by Israel and described by US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton as "unhelpful".
The new UN Human Rights Council is due to hold an emergency session on the conflict in Lebanon on Friday.
It was requested mainly by Arab states, demanding action on what they describe as "gross human rights violations" by Israel.
But Israel has criticised the request for a session, because it makes no mention of Hezbollah's attacks.
More than 1,000 Lebanese, most of them civilians, have now been killed in the month-long conflict, Lebanon says. Some 122 Israelis, most of them soldiers, have also been killed.
A meeting of key Security Council members ended without agreement late on Thursday. More talks are due on Friday.
However Russia says a deal may be a long way off and it plans to table a separate draft calling for a three-day truce for humanitarian purposes.
The UN moves came as Israel resumed its bombing raids over Lebanon.
At least seven civilians were killed in a raid in Akkar province near the Syrian border, while an area of southern Beirut was bombed early on Friday.
Fighting is also continuing between Israeli forces and Hezbollah guerrillas near the Israeli border in southern Lebanon.
There are reports that an Israeli soldier has been killed in the village of Labuneh.
Lebanese objections
Israel says plans agreed on Wednesday for an extended ground assault in south Lebanon are on hold to give diplomacy a chance.
There is still no agreement at the UN on a resolution calling for an end to the fighting.
Lebanon demands an immediate ceasefire and a quick Israeli withdrawal.
Israel says it will fight until new foreign troops and the Lebanese army move in - a position which Washington has supported.
On Thursday officials expressed optimism that a deal on the wording of a resolution might be reached soon.
The deal is understood to centre on introducing Lebanese troops into the border region, strengthening the existing UN force, Unifil, and giving it a tougher mandate.
At the same time, the text would call on Israel to begin a phased withdrawal.
However the Lebanese government - which includes Hezbollah - appears to be objecting to a strengthened mandate allowing UN troops to use force.
A meeting of the five permanent members of the Security Council late on Thursday failed to produce agreement.
'Unhelpful'
UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett flew to New York, saying she would "reinforce Britain's efforts to reach agreement".
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy are also expected.
Russia, meanwhile, said it was introducing its own draft resolution on a three-day humanitarian truce.
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said this was because there was no deal in sight.
"War is raging in Lebanon and the humanitarian situation is getting catastrophic," he said.
However the Russian idea of was rejected by Israel and described by US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton as "unhelpful".
The new UN Human Rights Council is due to hold an emergency session on the conflict in Lebanon on Friday.
It was requested mainly by Arab states, demanding action on what they describe as "gross human rights violations" by Israel.
But Israel has criticised the request for a session, because it makes no mention of Hezbollah's attacks.
More than 1,000 Lebanese, most of them civilians, have now been killed in the month-long conflict, Lebanon says. Some 122 Israelis, most of them soldiers, have also been killed.
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Israel Grabs High Ground, but Delays Offensive
By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA, AP
UNITED NATIONS (Aug. 11) - Israel grabbed strategic high ground in south Lebanon on Thursday but delayed a major push northward, as diplomats cited progress toward agreement on a U.N. cease-fire resolution that could soon go to a vote.
With Israeli troops closer to Beirut than at any time since the war began, diplomats said they were close to unlocking the stalemate over a U.N. effort toward a cease-fire. The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., John Bolton, said a vote was possible on Friday.
The United States and France have been trying to bridge differences over a timetable for an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
Early Friday, eight powerful explosions resounded across Beirut and local media reports said Israeli jets were pounding Hezbollah strongholds in the southern Dahieh suburb. The reports said a bridge was also hit in Akkar province, 60 miles north of Beirut. There was no immediate word of casualties.
Israeli ground troops took control of the mainly Christian town of Marjayoun before dawn Thursday and blasted away throughout the day at strongly fortified Hezbollah positions in several directions.
An Israeli soldier was killed and two were wounded in fierce battles with Hezbollah guerrillas Thursday, a day after the Israeli military suffered its worst one-day military loss, with 15 soldiers killed. More than 800 people have died in the month-long conflict, including 715 in Lebanon.
A huge explosion rocked the center of the town and the surrounding countryside about sunset and a big fire could be seen raging from a vantage point in Ibl el-Saqi, about two miles to the east.
By taking Marjayoun the Israeli army was closer to Beirut than at any time since the fighting began July 12 after a cross-border raid in which Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers and killed three.
At the same time, the army was still within about five miles of the Israeli border. Marjayoun, which sits near major road junctions in the south, lies due north of Israel's Galilee panhandle that juts north into Lebanon.
Marjayoun was used as the command center for the Israeli army and its allied Lebanese militia during an 18-year occupation of south Lebanon that ended in 2000. The high ground around Marjayoun, including the village of Blatt, overlooks the Litani River valley, one of the staging sites for Hezbollah's relentless rocket assaults on Israel.
Diplomatic efforts had stalled as the Lebanese called for Israeli troops to start pulling out once hostilities end and Beirut sends 15,000 troops of its own to the south, while Israel has insisted on staying in southern Lebanon until a robust international force is deployed, which could take weeks or months.
"We've closed some of the areas of disagreement with the French," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton said.
Suggestions that a new resolution was in the works also emerged.
"A new proposal is being drafted, which has positive significance that may bring the war to an end," Israeli member of parliament Otniel Schneller quoted Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as saying. "But if the draft is not accepted there is the Cabinet decision."
The Israeli Security Cabinet authorized Olmert to expand the current offensive in Lebanon, but Israeli officials said they would hold off to give diplomacy more time to work.
"If we can achieve that by diplomatic means and are sure that there is an intention to implement that document, we shall definitely be in a position where the military operation has achieved diplomatic space and a new situation has been created here in the north," Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said.
But he warned Israel was ready to use "all of the tools" to cripple Hezbollah if efforts toward a cease-fire failed.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora met twice Thursday with U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman. An aide to the Lebanese leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release information, said new ideas for ending the fighting involved combining two envisioned resolutions into one overarching document.
Broadly speaking, the U.S.-French draft Security Council resolution called for a cessation of hostilities and the deployment of the Lebanese army into southern Lebanon to the Israeli border, in cooperation with U.N. peacekeepers who are already there. As the Lebanese start deploying, the Israeli army will begin withdrawing, according to council diplomats.
Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmed Fatfat told The Associated Press about 350 Lebanese soldiers and police garrisoned in Marjayoun were taken into custody. Residents said the Israelis also took over one building in the barracks, locked up the ammunition and weapons depot and took away the keys.
An Israel military spokeswoman said troops arrived at a building in the town, where there were soldiers, police and refugees, but only advised them to remain there for their own safety.
"Nobody has been taken prisoner," she said, declining to be identified because military rules did not allow her to make public comments.
Israel reported one of its soldiers was killed and two were wounded in Qleia, just south of Marjayoun, when Hezbollah guerrillas fired a missile at a tank. Hezbollah reported killing as many as 16 Israeli soldiers and destroying 18 tanks.
Two Israeli civilians also died in Hezbollah rocket attacks, an Arab-Israeli mother and her young daughter in the village of Deir al-Assad. Israel reported 160 Hezbollah rockets landed during the day.
On the Lebanese side the death toll was significantly lower than in recent days, with only four people killed, all of them civilians hit in Israeli air and artillery strikes.
More than 800 people in Lebanon and Israel have died since fighting erupted - 715 on the Lebanese side and 121 on the Israeli side.
In Beirut, Israeli warplanes blanketed the downtown area with leaflets that threatened a "painful and strong" response to Hezbollah attacks and warned residents to evacuate three southern suburbs. Other warnings dropped from planes said any trucks on a key northern highway to Syria would be considered targets for attack.
Earlier, missiles from Israeli helicopter gunships blasted the top of a historic lighthouse in central Beirut in an apparent attempt to knock out a broadcast antenna for Lebanese state television.
Top U.N. humanitarian official Jan Egeland criticized Israel and Hezbollah for hindering the delivery of aid to civilians trapped in southern Lebanon, saying it was a "disgrace" they had failed to allow convoys to get through.
Egeland said a plan worked out with Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah to funnel aid through humanitarian corridors has not worked the way each side had promised.
"The Hezbollah and the Israelis could give us access in a heartbeat," Egeland said at the U.N.'s European headquarters in Geneva. "Then we could help 120,000 people in southern Lebanon
08-11-06 00:53 EDT
UNITED NATIONS (Aug. 11) - Israel grabbed strategic high ground in south Lebanon on Thursday but delayed a major push northward, as diplomats cited progress toward agreement on a U.N. cease-fire resolution that could soon go to a vote.
With Israeli troops closer to Beirut than at any time since the war began, diplomats said they were close to unlocking the stalemate over a U.N. effort toward a cease-fire. The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., John Bolton, said a vote was possible on Friday.
The United States and France have been trying to bridge differences over a timetable for an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
Early Friday, eight powerful explosions resounded across Beirut and local media reports said Israeli jets were pounding Hezbollah strongholds in the southern Dahieh suburb. The reports said a bridge was also hit in Akkar province, 60 miles north of Beirut. There was no immediate word of casualties.
Israeli ground troops took control of the mainly Christian town of Marjayoun before dawn Thursday and blasted away throughout the day at strongly fortified Hezbollah positions in several directions.
An Israeli soldier was killed and two were wounded in fierce battles with Hezbollah guerrillas Thursday, a day after the Israeli military suffered its worst one-day military loss, with 15 soldiers killed. More than 800 people have died in the month-long conflict, including 715 in Lebanon.
A huge explosion rocked the center of the town and the surrounding countryside about sunset and a big fire could be seen raging from a vantage point in Ibl el-Saqi, about two miles to the east.
By taking Marjayoun the Israeli army was closer to Beirut than at any time since the fighting began July 12 after a cross-border raid in which Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers and killed three.
At the same time, the army was still within about five miles of the Israeli border. Marjayoun, which sits near major road junctions in the south, lies due north of Israel's Galilee panhandle that juts north into Lebanon.
Marjayoun was used as the command center for the Israeli army and its allied Lebanese militia during an 18-year occupation of south Lebanon that ended in 2000. The high ground around Marjayoun, including the village of Blatt, overlooks the Litani River valley, one of the staging sites for Hezbollah's relentless rocket assaults on Israel.
Diplomatic efforts had stalled as the Lebanese called for Israeli troops to start pulling out once hostilities end and Beirut sends 15,000 troops of its own to the south, while Israel has insisted on staying in southern Lebanon until a robust international force is deployed, which could take weeks or months.
"We've closed some of the areas of disagreement with the French," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton said.
Suggestions that a new resolution was in the works also emerged.
"A new proposal is being drafted, which has positive significance that may bring the war to an end," Israeli member of parliament Otniel Schneller quoted Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as saying. "But if the draft is not accepted there is the Cabinet decision."
The Israeli Security Cabinet authorized Olmert to expand the current offensive in Lebanon, but Israeli officials said they would hold off to give diplomacy more time to work.
"If we can achieve that by diplomatic means and are sure that there is an intention to implement that document, we shall definitely be in a position where the military operation has achieved diplomatic space and a new situation has been created here in the north," Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said.
But he warned Israel was ready to use "all of the tools" to cripple Hezbollah if efforts toward a cease-fire failed.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora met twice Thursday with U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman. An aide to the Lebanese leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release information, said new ideas for ending the fighting involved combining two envisioned resolutions into one overarching document.
Broadly speaking, the U.S.-French draft Security Council resolution called for a cessation of hostilities and the deployment of the Lebanese army into southern Lebanon to the Israeli border, in cooperation with U.N. peacekeepers who are already there. As the Lebanese start deploying, the Israeli army will begin withdrawing, according to council diplomats.
Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmed Fatfat told The Associated Press about 350 Lebanese soldiers and police garrisoned in Marjayoun were taken into custody. Residents said the Israelis also took over one building in the barracks, locked up the ammunition and weapons depot and took away the keys.
An Israel military spokeswoman said troops arrived at a building in the town, where there were soldiers, police and refugees, but only advised them to remain there for their own safety.
"Nobody has been taken prisoner," she said, declining to be identified because military rules did not allow her to make public comments.
Israel reported one of its soldiers was killed and two were wounded in Qleia, just south of Marjayoun, when Hezbollah guerrillas fired a missile at a tank. Hezbollah reported killing as many as 16 Israeli soldiers and destroying 18 tanks.
Two Israeli civilians also died in Hezbollah rocket attacks, an Arab-Israeli mother and her young daughter in the village of Deir al-Assad. Israel reported 160 Hezbollah rockets landed during the day.
On the Lebanese side the death toll was significantly lower than in recent days, with only four people killed, all of them civilians hit in Israeli air and artillery strikes.
More than 800 people in Lebanon and Israel have died since fighting erupted - 715 on the Lebanese side and 121 on the Israeli side.
In Beirut, Israeli warplanes blanketed the downtown area with leaflets that threatened a "painful and strong" response to Hezbollah attacks and warned residents to evacuate three southern suburbs. Other warnings dropped from planes said any trucks on a key northern highway to Syria would be considered targets for attack.
Earlier, missiles from Israeli helicopter gunships blasted the top of a historic lighthouse in central Beirut in an apparent attempt to knock out a broadcast antenna for Lebanese state television.
Top U.N. humanitarian official Jan Egeland criticized Israel and Hezbollah for hindering the delivery of aid to civilians trapped in southern Lebanon, saying it was a "disgrace" they had failed to allow convoys to get through.
Egeland said a plan worked out with Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah to funnel aid through humanitarian corridors has not worked the way each side had promised.
"The Hezbollah and the Israelis could give us access in a heartbeat," Egeland said at the U.N.'s European headquarters in Geneva. "Then we could help 120,000 people in southern Lebanon
08-11-06 00:53 EDT
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theone666
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UN steps up push for Lebanon deal
Friday, 11 August 2006, 10:39 GMT 11:39 UK
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is heading to the UN in New York where efforts are being stepped up to try to end the violence in Lebanon and Israel.
Diplomats are trying to agree on a resolution to end the month-long war between Hezbollah militants and Israel.
But Russia says a deal may be a long way off and is now pushing its own plan for a three-day humanitarian truce.
Israeli air strikes have continued over Lebanon, while Hezbollah has fired a salvo of rockets into northern Israel.
At least 11 civilians were killed and 18 injured when Israeli jets attacked a bridge in Akkar province near the Syrian border, Lebanese hospital officials said.
Israeli jets also struck a vehicle near the eastern city of Baalbek, killing one person, according to medical sources.
Suburbs in the south of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, were also hit but there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Friday morning also saw Hezbollah fire several rockets into Israel. Two people were lightly injured in the port city of Haifa, Israeli medical sources said.
Fighting has also been continuing between Israeli forces and Hezbollah guerrillas near the Israeli border in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli army said a soldier was killed in fierce clashes in the western village of Labuneh, and 19 soldiers were injured across southern Lebanon overnight.
The Israeli military also confirmed the death of a soldier near Marjayoun - a mostly Christian town about 8km (five miles) from the border which Israeli troops overran on Thursday.
Troops from the UN peacekeeping force, Unifil, have gone to Marjayoun to evacuate some 350 Lebanese soldiers and police from the local barracks under an agreement with the Israelis, Lebanese officials said.
Despite the fighting, Israel says plans approved on Wednesday for a much deeper ground assault in south Lebanon are on hold to give diplomacy a chance.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana is due in Beirut later on Friday for talks with the Lebanese Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora.
And US Middle East envoy David Welch has made a surprise return to Lebanon for talks.
Objections
The diplomatic focus is set to switch to New York later in the day as UN Security Council members make further attempts to agree on a draft resolution aimed at ending the fighting.
As well as Ms Rice, who is due in New York on Friday morning local time, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy is also expected at UN headquarters.
UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett is also in New York, saying she would "reinforce Britain's efforts to reach agreement".
Lebanon demands an immediate ceasefire and a quick Israeli withdrawal.
Israel says it will fight until new foreign troops and the Lebanese army move in - a position which Washington has supported.
A compromise deal is understood to centre on introducing Lebanese troops into the border region, strengthening Unifil, and giving it a tougher mandate.
At the same time, the text would call on Israel to begin a phased withdrawal.
However the Lebanese government - which includes Hezbollah - appears to be objecting to a strengthened mandate allowing UN troops to use force.
On Thursday, officials expressed optimism that a deal on the resolution's wording might be reached soon but the five permanent Security Council members failed to reach agreement at talks that ended late in the day.
Catastrophic
As the talks faltered, Russia said it was introducing its own draft resolution calling for a three-day truce for humanitarian purposes.
"War is raging in Lebanon and the humanitarian situation is getting catastrophic," Russian ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said.
Russia's idea was rejected by Israel and described by the US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, as "unhelpful".
The new UN Human Rights Council is holding an emergency session on the conflict in Lebanon.
The meeting in Geneva was requested mainly by Arab states, demanding action on what they describe as "gross human rights violations" by Israel.
But Israel criticised the request because it does not mention Hezbollah's attacks.
More than 1,000 Lebanese, most of them civilians, have now been killed in the month-long conflict, Lebanon says. Some 123 Israelis, most of them soldiers, have also been killed.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is heading to the UN in New York where efforts are being stepped up to try to end the violence in Lebanon and Israel.
Diplomats are trying to agree on a resolution to end the month-long war between Hezbollah militants and Israel.
But Russia says a deal may be a long way off and is now pushing its own plan for a three-day humanitarian truce.
Israeli air strikes have continued over Lebanon, while Hezbollah has fired a salvo of rockets into northern Israel.
At least 11 civilians were killed and 18 injured when Israeli jets attacked a bridge in Akkar province near the Syrian border, Lebanese hospital officials said.
Israeli jets also struck a vehicle near the eastern city of Baalbek, killing one person, according to medical sources.
Suburbs in the south of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, were also hit but there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Friday morning also saw Hezbollah fire several rockets into Israel. Two people were lightly injured in the port city of Haifa, Israeli medical sources said.
Fighting has also been continuing between Israeli forces and Hezbollah guerrillas near the Israeli border in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli army said a soldier was killed in fierce clashes in the western village of Labuneh, and 19 soldiers were injured across southern Lebanon overnight.
The Israeli military also confirmed the death of a soldier near Marjayoun - a mostly Christian town about 8km (five miles) from the border which Israeli troops overran on Thursday.
Troops from the UN peacekeeping force, Unifil, have gone to Marjayoun to evacuate some 350 Lebanese soldiers and police from the local barracks under an agreement with the Israelis, Lebanese officials said.
Despite the fighting, Israel says plans approved on Wednesday for a much deeper ground assault in south Lebanon are on hold to give diplomacy a chance.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana is due in Beirut later on Friday for talks with the Lebanese Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora.
And US Middle East envoy David Welch has made a surprise return to Lebanon for talks.
Objections
The diplomatic focus is set to switch to New York later in the day as UN Security Council members make further attempts to agree on a draft resolution aimed at ending the fighting.
As well as Ms Rice, who is due in New York on Friday morning local time, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy is also expected at UN headquarters.
UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett is also in New York, saying she would "reinforce Britain's efforts to reach agreement".
Lebanon demands an immediate ceasefire and a quick Israeli withdrawal.
Israel says it will fight until new foreign troops and the Lebanese army move in - a position which Washington has supported.
A compromise deal is understood to centre on introducing Lebanese troops into the border region, strengthening Unifil, and giving it a tougher mandate.
At the same time, the text would call on Israel to begin a phased withdrawal.
However the Lebanese government - which includes Hezbollah - appears to be objecting to a strengthened mandate allowing UN troops to use force.
On Thursday, officials expressed optimism that a deal on the resolution's wording might be reached soon but the five permanent Security Council members failed to reach agreement at talks that ended late in the day.
Catastrophic
As the talks faltered, Russia said it was introducing its own draft resolution calling for a three-day truce for humanitarian purposes.
"War is raging in Lebanon and the humanitarian situation is getting catastrophic," Russian ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said.
Russia's idea was rejected by Israel and described by the US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, as "unhelpful".
The new UN Human Rights Council is holding an emergency session on the conflict in Lebanon.
The meeting in Geneva was requested mainly by Arab states, demanding action on what they describe as "gross human rights violations" by Israel.
But Israel criticised the request because it does not mention Hezbollah's attacks.
More than 1,000 Lebanese, most of them civilians, have now been killed in the month-long conflict, Lebanon says. Some 123 Israelis, most of them soldiers, have also been killed.
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theone666
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UN warns on Mid-East 'war crimes'
Friday, 11 August 2006, 13:51 GMT 14:51 UK
The UN human rights commissioner has condemned both Israel and Hezbollah for the suffering inflicted on civilians in Lebanon and north Israel.
Louise Arbour said there was evidence to strongly suggest that indiscriminate force was being used by both sides.
War crimes could be committed even by those who believed their cause was worthy, she warned.
She was speaking at an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council, which had been called by 16 states.
The countries - most of them Islamic - proposed a resolution that fiercely criticised Israel but made no mention of Hezbollah's actions.
The resolution, tabled by member nations of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and four others, called for an urgent "high-level" commission of inquiry into what is termed Israel's "systematic" attacks on civilians in Lebanon.
But Mrs Arbour stressed that both sides had to be held to account for their actions during their conflict, which has so far lasted a month.
"Israeli attacks affecting civilians continue unabated," she said.
"Also unrelenting is Hezbollah's indiscriminate shelling of densely populated centres in northern Israel which has brought death and destruction."
'Just cause'
Ms Arbour reminded the 47-member council that there had been repeated allegations of Hezbollah's systematic use of civilians as human shields.
She also warned that war crimes may be committed "even by those who believe accurately or not that their combat is a just one and their cause a worthy pursuit".
More than 1,000 Lebanese, most of them civilians, have been killed, Lebanon says. Some 123 Israelis, most of them soldiers, have also been killed.
'Bias'
The Israeli ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Itzhak Levanon, said civilians on both sides were suffering but some council members were ignoring Hezbollah's "vicious campaign of terror".
The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says many European members of the Council are unwilling to back the resolution as it stands.
European diplomats have been trying to negotiate with OIC members to make the resolution more balanced.
The session was scheduled to last one day but may continue into next week, the Associated Press news agency reported.
It is the Council's second emergency session on Israel.
On 6 July, it passed a resolution by 29 to 11, with five abstentions and two absences, demanding a halt to Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Israel, backed by the US and European countries, accused the UN Council of bias because it did not also criticise violence perpetrated on the Palestinian side.
The Council was launched in June to replace the largely discredited UN Human Rights Commission.
The UN human rights commissioner has condemned both Israel and Hezbollah for the suffering inflicted on civilians in Lebanon and north Israel.
Louise Arbour said there was evidence to strongly suggest that indiscriminate force was being used by both sides.
War crimes could be committed even by those who believed their cause was worthy, she warned.
She was speaking at an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council, which had been called by 16 states.
The countries - most of them Islamic - proposed a resolution that fiercely criticised Israel but made no mention of Hezbollah's actions.
The resolution, tabled by member nations of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and four others, called for an urgent "high-level" commission of inquiry into what is termed Israel's "systematic" attacks on civilians in Lebanon.
But Mrs Arbour stressed that both sides had to be held to account for their actions during their conflict, which has so far lasted a month.
"Israeli attacks affecting civilians continue unabated," she said.
"Also unrelenting is Hezbollah's indiscriminate shelling of densely populated centres in northern Israel which has brought death and destruction."
'Just cause'
Ms Arbour reminded the 47-member council that there had been repeated allegations of Hezbollah's systematic use of civilians as human shields.
She also warned that war crimes may be committed "even by those who believe accurately or not that their combat is a just one and their cause a worthy pursuit".
More than 1,000 Lebanese, most of them civilians, have been killed, Lebanon says. Some 123 Israelis, most of them soldiers, have also been killed.
'Bias'
The Israeli ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Itzhak Levanon, said civilians on both sides were suffering but some council members were ignoring Hezbollah's "vicious campaign of terror".
The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says many European members of the Council are unwilling to back the resolution as it stands.
European diplomats have been trying to negotiate with OIC members to make the resolution more balanced.
The session was scheduled to last one day but may continue into next week, the Associated Press news agency reported.
It is the Council's second emergency session on Israel.
On 6 July, it passed a resolution by 29 to 11, with five abstentions and two absences, demanding a halt to Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Israel, backed by the US and European countries, accused the UN Council of bias because it did not also criticise violence perpetrated on the Palestinian side.
The Council was launched in June to replace the largely discredited UN Human Rights Commission.
-
theone666
- Major [O-4]
- Posts: 1434
- Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 5:00 am
UN rights body backs Israel probe
Friday, 11 August 2006, 16:04 GMT 17:04 UK
The UN Human Rights Council has voted to launch an inquiry into alleged abuses committed by Israel during its month-long offensive in Lebanon.
Human rights commissioner Louise Arbour backed the probe, but earlier called for Hezbollah to also face an inquiry.
She condemned both Israel and Hezbollah for the suffering inflicted on civilians in Lebanon and north Israel.
Ms Arbour said there was evidence to strongly suggest that indiscriminate force was being used by both sides.
War crimes could be committed even by those who believed their cause was worthy, she warned.
She was speaking at an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council.
The session was called by 16 countries - most of them Islamic - who proposed a resolution that fiercely criticised Israel but made no mention of Hezbollah's actions.
The resolution, tabled by member nations of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and four others, called for an urgent "high-level" commission of inquiry into what is termed Israel's "systematic" attacks on civilians in Lebanon.
But Ms Arbour stressed that both sides had to be held to account for their actions during their conflict, which has so far lasted a month.
"Israeli attacks affecting civilians continue unabated," she said.
"Also unrelenting is Hezbollah's indiscriminate shelling of densely populated centres in northern Israel which has brought death and destruction."
'Just cause'
Ms Arbour reminded the 47-member council that there had been repeated allegations of Hezbollah's systematic use of civilians as human shields.
She also warned that war crimes may be committed "even by those who believe accurately or not that their combat is a just one and their cause a worthy pursuit".
Ms Arbour laid out how a comprehensive, high-level inquiry into serious violations would work.
"Within a human rights framework, the inquiry should be primarily concerned with the plights of victims. It should address all violations by all parties, and it should lay the foundation for possible measures of reparation and accountability," she said.
More than 1,000 Lebanese, most of them civilians, have been killed in the month-long conflict, Lebanon says. Some 123 Israelis, most of them soldiers, have also been killed.
The Israeli ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Itzhak Levanon, said civilians on both sides were suffering but some council members were ignoring Hezbollah's "vicious campaign of terror".
The resolution before the council is expected to go to a vote later on Friday.
But the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva say it is unlikely to be passed unless it is amended to include condemnation not just of Israel but of Hezbollah too.
The Council was launched in June to replace the largely discredited UN Human Rights Commission.
The UN Human Rights Council has voted to launch an inquiry into alleged abuses committed by Israel during its month-long offensive in Lebanon.
Human rights commissioner Louise Arbour backed the probe, but earlier called for Hezbollah to also face an inquiry.
She condemned both Israel and Hezbollah for the suffering inflicted on civilians in Lebanon and north Israel.
Ms Arbour said there was evidence to strongly suggest that indiscriminate force was being used by both sides.
War crimes could be committed even by those who believed their cause was worthy, she warned.
She was speaking at an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council.
The session was called by 16 countries - most of them Islamic - who proposed a resolution that fiercely criticised Israel but made no mention of Hezbollah's actions.
The resolution, tabled by member nations of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and four others, called for an urgent "high-level" commission of inquiry into what is termed Israel's "systematic" attacks on civilians in Lebanon.
But Ms Arbour stressed that both sides had to be held to account for their actions during their conflict, which has so far lasted a month.
"Israeli attacks affecting civilians continue unabated," she said.
"Also unrelenting is Hezbollah's indiscriminate shelling of densely populated centres in northern Israel which has brought death and destruction."
'Just cause'
Ms Arbour reminded the 47-member council that there had been repeated allegations of Hezbollah's systematic use of civilians as human shields.
She also warned that war crimes may be committed "even by those who believe accurately or not that their combat is a just one and their cause a worthy pursuit".
Ms Arbour laid out how a comprehensive, high-level inquiry into serious violations would work.
"Within a human rights framework, the inquiry should be primarily concerned with the plights of victims. It should address all violations by all parties, and it should lay the foundation for possible measures of reparation and accountability," she said.
More than 1,000 Lebanese, most of them civilians, have been killed in the month-long conflict, Lebanon says. Some 123 Israelis, most of them soldiers, have also been killed.
The Israeli ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Itzhak Levanon, said civilians on both sides were suffering but some council members were ignoring Hezbollah's "vicious campaign of terror".
The resolution before the council is expected to go to a vote later on Friday.
But the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva say it is unlikely to be passed unless it is amended to include condemnation not just of Israel but of Hezbollah too.
The Council was launched in June to replace the largely discredited UN Human Rights Commission.
-
theone666
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Israel 'set to widen offensive'
Friday, 11 August 2006, 17:27 GMT 18:27 UK
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has ordered the army to prepare to expand its ground offensive in Lebanon, Israeli officials have said.
The move came as diplomats at the UN continued to try to reach a deal on a resolution to end the fighting.
The Israeli ambassador to the UN said Israel was still involved in the talks, despite Mr Olmert's order.
Israel radio said troops had been ordered to seize ground as far as the strategic Litani River.
The report suggested Mr Olmert and Defence Minister Amir Peretz had decided that efforts to reach an agreement at the UN had so far failed.
The plan to expand ground operations was approved on Wednesday but put on hold by Mr Olmert to give more time for diplomacy to bear fruit.
The BBC's Rob Norris in Jerusalem says the announcement could be an act of brinkmanship as the talks in New York reach a crucial stage.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is at the UN headquarters to try to bridge differences over a draft US-French text introduced last Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has ordered the army to prepare to expand its ground offensive in Lebanon, Israeli officials have said.
The move came as diplomats at the UN continued to try to reach a deal on a resolution to end the fighting.
The Israeli ambassador to the UN said Israel was still involved in the talks, despite Mr Olmert's order.
Israel radio said troops had been ordered to seize ground as far as the strategic Litani River.
The report suggested Mr Olmert and Defence Minister Amir Peretz had decided that efforts to reach an agreement at the UN had so far failed.
The plan to expand ground operations was approved on Wednesday but put on hold by Mr Olmert to give more time for diplomacy to bear fruit.
The BBC's Rob Norris in Jerusalem says the announcement could be an act of brinkmanship as the talks in New York reach a crucial stage.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is at the UN headquarters to try to bridge differences over a draft US-French text introduced last Saturday.
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theone666
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- Posts: 1434
- Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 5:00 am
In pictures: Lebanon conflict
Friday, 11 August 2006, 14:06 GMT 15:06 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/4783889.stm
Friday, 11 August 2006, 14:06 GMT 15:06 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/4783889.stm
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theone666
- Major [O-4]
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Israel Begins Wider Ground Offensive
By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA, AP
13:45 p.m. EDT Update: UNITED NATIONS - France says it will formally introduce a new draft resolution seeking a halt to fighting in Lebanon, clearing the way for a vote later Friday.
JERUSALEM (Aug. 11) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is dissatisfied with the emerging cease-fire deal and told his defense minister in a meeting Friday to get ready for a wider ground offensive in Lebanon, a senior Israeli official said.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes pounded south Beirut and border crossings to Syria, killing at least 14 people across Lebanon as ground fighting picked up intensity in the south.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss the contents of the Olmert-Peretz meeting. It was not immediately clear whether the Israeli threat was meant to pressure the U.N. Security Council or whether Israel is determined to send troops deeper into Lebanon.
Jets struck twice at a busy bridge at the Abboudiyeh border crossing into Syria, killing at least 12 people and wounding 18 others, hospital and security officials said. The checkpoint is some 10 miles inland from the Mediterranean coast, on Lebanon's northern border.
Hezbollah TV reported Friday that guerrillas destroyed an Israeli gunboat off the coast of Tyre, killing or wounding the crew of 12.
The Israeli army said it was not aware of a strike on any of its vessels, which have been enforcing a blockade of the Lebanese coast since fighting began 30 days ago. Larger craft have repeatedly fired shells against Hezbollah positions and strongholds, including in south Beirut.
Israel also struck an area close to the Lebanese border crossing at Masnaa in the Bekaa Valley, about 30 miles southeast of Beirut, but there were no reports of casualties. Masnaa is the main border crossing with Syria, and has been closed after four previous strikes. It was the main escape route for hundreds of foreigners and displaced Lebanese who fled the country over land.
Only one other official border crossing, at the northern coastal town of Arida, is open.
Israeli warplanes also struck three vehicles near the eastern city of Baalbek, killing at least one person and wounding two others, security officials said. Witnesses said the vehicles were directly hit and caught fire. It was unclear whether they were cars or pickup trucks _ a frequent target of Israeli raids.
A drone fired a missile at a motorbike on the southern coastal highway between Sidon and Tyre, killing its driver, security officials said. Jets also hit roads and residential areas near the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, flattening a deserted house there, they said. It was unclear if its owner, Zaino Yassin, was a Hezbollah activist, they said.
Israeli warplanes struck roads and villages in mountainous areas in the southeastern part of the Bekaa Valley as well, security officials said. No casualties were reported.
At least 20 explosions rang out across the Lebanese capital as thick black smoke rose from the southern suburbs. Hezbollah said it unleashed "a new barrage of rockets on Haifa" in response. Later the group said it fired at the Israeli towns of Kiryat Shemona, Nahariya, Avivim, Kfar Giladi, Margelot and Metulla "in response to the continuing Zionist attacks on Lebanese civilians."
Warplanes returned to the capital midday and sent missiles into Chiah, a south Beirut neighborhood where at least 41 people were killed in a strike Monday. Friday's attack came a day after Israeli jets dropped leaflets over Beirut, warning Chiah residents to leave. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
In another statement, Hezbollah said its fighters killed or wounded about 15 Israeli soldiers trying to advance toward the border village of Aita al-Shaab. "The remaining soldiers retreated under the cover of artillery shelling," the statement said. Aita al-Shaab is one of several Lebanese border towns where gunbattles have been raging for weeks between Israeli troops and Hezbollah guerrillas.
The group later said it killed four Israeli soldiers in Qantara, about 5 miles from the Israeli border. Hezbollah said its guerrillas inflicted casualties on Israeli forces in the village of Rachaf as well, some 9 miles from the border.
"The Islamic Resistance (Hezbollah) has since early morning been engaged in fierce clashes (with Israeli troops) on the southwestern outskirts of Rachaf. By 9:40 a.m., the (Israeli) enemy was trying to evacuate its casualties from the battlefield," Hezbollah said in a statement broadcast on its Al-Manar television.
Fighting also continued in Beit Yahoun, with Hezbollah saying it destroyed an Israeli tank and bulldozer, killing or wounding their crews. The town is about 7 miles from the Israeli border.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on Hezbollah's statements.
An Associated Press reporter in the southern port city of Tyre heard a huge sonic boom over the town early Friday, likely from Israeli jet fighters breaking the sound barrier overhead.
2006-08-11 12:03 EDT
13:45 p.m. EDT Update: UNITED NATIONS - France says it will formally introduce a new draft resolution seeking a halt to fighting in Lebanon, clearing the way for a vote later Friday.
JERUSALEM (Aug. 11) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is dissatisfied with the emerging cease-fire deal and told his defense minister in a meeting Friday to get ready for a wider ground offensive in Lebanon, a senior Israeli official said.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes pounded south Beirut and border crossings to Syria, killing at least 14 people across Lebanon as ground fighting picked up intensity in the south.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss the contents of the Olmert-Peretz meeting. It was not immediately clear whether the Israeli threat was meant to pressure the U.N. Security Council or whether Israel is determined to send troops deeper into Lebanon.
Jets struck twice at a busy bridge at the Abboudiyeh border crossing into Syria, killing at least 12 people and wounding 18 others, hospital and security officials said. The checkpoint is some 10 miles inland from the Mediterranean coast, on Lebanon's northern border.
Hezbollah TV reported Friday that guerrillas destroyed an Israeli gunboat off the coast of Tyre, killing or wounding the crew of 12.
The Israeli army said it was not aware of a strike on any of its vessels, which have been enforcing a blockade of the Lebanese coast since fighting began 30 days ago. Larger craft have repeatedly fired shells against Hezbollah positions and strongholds, including in south Beirut.
Israel also struck an area close to the Lebanese border crossing at Masnaa in the Bekaa Valley, about 30 miles southeast of Beirut, but there were no reports of casualties. Masnaa is the main border crossing with Syria, and has been closed after four previous strikes. It was the main escape route for hundreds of foreigners and displaced Lebanese who fled the country over land.
Only one other official border crossing, at the northern coastal town of Arida, is open.
Israeli warplanes also struck three vehicles near the eastern city of Baalbek, killing at least one person and wounding two others, security officials said. Witnesses said the vehicles were directly hit and caught fire. It was unclear whether they were cars or pickup trucks _ a frequent target of Israeli raids.
A drone fired a missile at a motorbike on the southern coastal highway between Sidon and Tyre, killing its driver, security officials said. Jets also hit roads and residential areas near the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, flattening a deserted house there, they said. It was unclear if its owner, Zaino Yassin, was a Hezbollah activist, they said.
Israeli warplanes struck roads and villages in mountainous areas in the southeastern part of the Bekaa Valley as well, security officials said. No casualties were reported.
At least 20 explosions rang out across the Lebanese capital as thick black smoke rose from the southern suburbs. Hezbollah said it unleashed "a new barrage of rockets on Haifa" in response. Later the group said it fired at the Israeli towns of Kiryat Shemona, Nahariya, Avivim, Kfar Giladi, Margelot and Metulla "in response to the continuing Zionist attacks on Lebanese civilians."
Warplanes returned to the capital midday and sent missiles into Chiah, a south Beirut neighborhood where at least 41 people were killed in a strike Monday. Friday's attack came a day after Israeli jets dropped leaflets over Beirut, warning Chiah residents to leave. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
In another statement, Hezbollah said its fighters killed or wounded about 15 Israeli soldiers trying to advance toward the border village of Aita al-Shaab. "The remaining soldiers retreated under the cover of artillery shelling," the statement said. Aita al-Shaab is one of several Lebanese border towns where gunbattles have been raging for weeks between Israeli troops and Hezbollah guerrillas.
The group later said it killed four Israeli soldiers in Qantara, about 5 miles from the Israeli border. Hezbollah said its guerrillas inflicted casualties on Israeli forces in the village of Rachaf as well, some 9 miles from the border.
"The Islamic Resistance (Hezbollah) has since early morning been engaged in fierce clashes (with Israeli troops) on the southwestern outskirts of Rachaf. By 9:40 a.m., the (Israeli) enemy was trying to evacuate its casualties from the battlefield," Hezbollah said in a statement broadcast on its Al-Manar television.
Fighting also continued in Beit Yahoun, with Hezbollah saying it destroyed an Israeli tank and bulldozer, killing or wounding their crews. The town is about 7 miles from the Israeli border.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on Hezbollah's statements.
An Associated Press reporter in the southern port city of Tyre heard a huge sonic boom over the town early Friday, likely from Israeli jet fighters breaking the sound barrier overhead.
2006-08-11 12:03 EDT
YOU MUJIS-
theone666
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UN vote backs Lebanon ceasefire
Saturday, 12 August 2006, 04:13 GMT 05:13 UK
The UN Security Council has unanimously approved a new resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Resolution 1701 calls for "a full cessation of hostilities", and UN and Lebanese troops to replace Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
The US Secretary of State said the deal should "open a path to lasting peace between Lebanon and Israel".
Israel hit targets in Lebanon early on Saturday, but said strikes would end when the government backed the UN plan.
Earlier, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said Israel's continuing actions would prepare the ground for an eventual takeover of southern Lebanon by Lebanese and international troops.
The governments of both countries are expected to discuss the resolution at cabinet meetings over the weekend.
Hours before the UN vote, Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered his army to prepare to widen its offensive in southern Lebanon, which officials say will continue until the country's cabinet meets on Sunday.
An adviser to Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora gave the resolution a cautious welcome.
'Expanded force'
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan opened the Security Council session with an impassioned speech, in which he lamented the UN's failure to act sooner to end fighting in the Middle East.
He said the widely perceived delay in drafting a resolution had "badly shaken" global faith in the UN.
The new resolution says Hezbollah must end attacks on Israel while Israel must end "offensive military operations" in Lebanese territory.
Other key points include:
Some 15,000 peacekeeping troops for the existing UN Interim Force in Lebanon, Unifil, which will receive a beefed-up mandate to monitor and enforce the ceasefire
Lebanon's government asked to deploy troops to the south of the country, previously the domain of Hezbollah fighters
Israel required to withdraw troops currently in southern Lebanon as UN and Lebanese forces are deployed
Drawing up of plans for the disarmament of Hezbollah and the final settlement of the Israel-Lebanon border area, including the Shebaa farms area claimed by Hezbollah.
The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, said the strengthened Unifil would not be the same force currently in the region, which currently numbers just 2,000 troops.
Unifil would be expanded, given a new mandate and new equipment in order to maintain peace, she told the Security Council.
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed the resolution, but stressed that fighting should stop immediately following its adoption.
He also announced plans to visit the Middle East as part of a drive to revitalise the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, Reuters reported.
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy called the adoption of the resolution "a historic turning point".
However, the foreign minister of Qatar, which currently sits on the Security Council, said the resolution still contained imbalances in favour of Israel.
'Convoy hit'
As the diplomats finalised the draft, Israel radio said troops had been ordered to seize ground as far as the strategic Litani River, up to 30km (18 miles) from the Israeli border.
The plan to expand ground operations was approved on Wednesday but was put on hold by Mr Olmert to give more time for diplomacy to bear fruit.
Fresh violence, meanwhile, took a further toll on both Israel and Lebanon.
At least four people were killed when an Israeli drone attacked a convoy of hundreds of cars fleeing the southern town of Marjayoun, Lebanese witnesses and security officials said.
Earlier, 12 civilians were killed when Israeli jets struck a bridge at crossing on the Lebanon-Syria border, Lebanese sources said.
There have also been renewed Israeli air strikes on southern areas of Beirut.
In Israel, several people were wounded when Hezbollah fired several volleys of missiles into the north of the country.
The UN Security Council has unanimously approved a new resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Resolution 1701 calls for "a full cessation of hostilities", and UN and Lebanese troops to replace Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
The US Secretary of State said the deal should "open a path to lasting peace between Lebanon and Israel".
Israel hit targets in Lebanon early on Saturday, but said strikes would end when the government backed the UN plan.
Earlier, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said Israel's continuing actions would prepare the ground for an eventual takeover of southern Lebanon by Lebanese and international troops.
The governments of both countries are expected to discuss the resolution at cabinet meetings over the weekend.
Hours before the UN vote, Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered his army to prepare to widen its offensive in southern Lebanon, which officials say will continue until the country's cabinet meets on Sunday.
An adviser to Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora gave the resolution a cautious welcome.
'Expanded force'
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan opened the Security Council session with an impassioned speech, in which he lamented the UN's failure to act sooner to end fighting in the Middle East.
He said the widely perceived delay in drafting a resolution had "badly shaken" global faith in the UN.
The new resolution says Hezbollah must end attacks on Israel while Israel must end "offensive military operations" in Lebanese territory.
Other key points include:
Some 15,000 peacekeeping troops for the existing UN Interim Force in Lebanon, Unifil, which will receive a beefed-up mandate to monitor and enforce the ceasefire
Lebanon's government asked to deploy troops to the south of the country, previously the domain of Hezbollah fighters
Israel required to withdraw troops currently in southern Lebanon as UN and Lebanese forces are deployed
Drawing up of plans for the disarmament of Hezbollah and the final settlement of the Israel-Lebanon border area, including the Shebaa farms area claimed by Hezbollah.
The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, said the strengthened Unifil would not be the same force currently in the region, which currently numbers just 2,000 troops.
Unifil would be expanded, given a new mandate and new equipment in order to maintain peace, she told the Security Council.
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed the resolution, but stressed that fighting should stop immediately following its adoption.
He also announced plans to visit the Middle East as part of a drive to revitalise the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, Reuters reported.
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy called the adoption of the resolution "a historic turning point".
However, the foreign minister of Qatar, which currently sits on the Security Council, said the resolution still contained imbalances in favour of Israel.
'Convoy hit'
As the diplomats finalised the draft, Israel radio said troops had been ordered to seize ground as far as the strategic Litani River, up to 30km (18 miles) from the Israeli border.
The plan to expand ground operations was approved on Wednesday but was put on hold by Mr Olmert to give more time for diplomacy to bear fruit.
Fresh violence, meanwhile, took a further toll on both Israel and Lebanon.
At least four people were killed when an Israeli drone attacked a convoy of hundreds of cars fleeing the southern town of Marjayoun, Lebanese witnesses and security officials said.
Earlier, 12 civilians were killed when Israeli jets struck a bridge at crossing on the Lebanon-Syria border, Lebanese sources said.
There have also been renewed Israeli air strikes on southern areas of Beirut.
In Israel, several people were wounded when Hezbollah fired several volleys of missiles into the north of the country.
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Blair urges 'immediate ceasefire'
Saturday, 12 August 2006, 01:58 GMT 02:58 UK
Tony Blair has called for an immediate ceasefire after the UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution aimed at ending the Middle East crisis.
However, he said there would still be difficulties until UN peacekeepers and Lebanese troops took control.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said she hoped for a "durable peace".
The resolution calls for a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, then the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon.
'Straight away'
The prime minister said: "The hostilities on both sides should cease immediately now that the resolution has finally been agreed by the whole of the international community.
"However, there will continue to be difficulties until it is clear that the combination of Lebanese forces and the UN multinational force can be effectively deployed in returning control of the south of Lebanon to the Lebanese government.
"This should start straight away."
The resolution was finally agreed at the UN in New York following days of diplomatic negotiations.
It authorises the deployment of a 15,000-strong UN peacekeeping force with increased powers which would work with 15,000 Lebanese troops in the south of the country.
Mr Blair added: "It is tragic that so many innocent lives, Lebanese and Israeli, have been lost over the past weeks.
"We must now take the steps necessary to ensure it is never repeated."
'Occupation and conflict'
Mrs Beckett broke off from a caravanning holiday in France to go to New York.
She said: "For far too long Lebanon has suffered from occupation, interference and conflict, and it is the civilian population, both in Lebanon and Israel, which has suffered most."
She said the UK believed it was right to wait for a resolution because the wording needed to take account of both Israel and Lebanon's positions to ensure a lasting solution.
Tony Blair has called for an immediate ceasefire after the UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution aimed at ending the Middle East crisis.
However, he said there would still be difficulties until UN peacekeepers and Lebanese troops took control.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said she hoped for a "durable peace".
The resolution calls for a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, then the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon.
'Straight away'
The prime minister said: "The hostilities on both sides should cease immediately now that the resolution has finally been agreed by the whole of the international community.
"However, there will continue to be difficulties until it is clear that the combination of Lebanese forces and the UN multinational force can be effectively deployed in returning control of the south of Lebanon to the Lebanese government.
"This should start straight away."
The resolution was finally agreed at the UN in New York following days of diplomatic negotiations.
It authorises the deployment of a 15,000-strong UN peacekeeping force with increased powers which would work with 15,000 Lebanese troops in the south of the country.
Mr Blair added: "It is tragic that so many innocent lives, Lebanese and Israeli, have been lost over the past weeks.
"We must now take the steps necessary to ensure it is never repeated."
'Occupation and conflict'
Mrs Beckett broke off from a caravanning holiday in France to go to New York.
She said: "For far too long Lebanon has suffered from occupation, interference and conflict, and it is the civilian population, both in Lebanon and Israel, which has suffered most."
She said the UK believed it was right to wait for a resolution because the wording needed to take account of both Israel and Lebanon's positions to ensure a lasting solution.