Blair, Annan call for int'l force in Lebanon; Israel: It's too soon

[Violet_Crumble]

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called Monday for the deployment of an international force in southern Lebanon, in order to end the spiraling conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

But Israel reiterated Monday its opposition to the initiative. The Prime Minister's Office said Sunday night that Israel would not agree to the deployment of any troops in south Lebanon, save for the Lebanese army.

Israel is concerned that an international force would make it more difficult for the IDF to respond to future attacks from Lebanese territory.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/739352.html

[afrosia]

1. Israel: But we're really having fun!!!

[acmavm]

2. Gotta hand it to those Israelis. If there's a way to help alleviate the

situation in the Middle East, they'll fight it all the way.

At least they're consistent.

[Englander]

3. blair's delusional, as per usual.

Introducing an international force, would just increase the likelihood of another Qana happening, or
of another hostage crisis happening, or some other incident happening. Besides, which countries are
going to volunteer for this, who would want to try & intervene in this unfolding disaster? I think
all the energies should be focused on trying to get a ceasefire, by applying pressure on the
Israelis, & whoever can influence Hezbollah.

[eyl]

4. To supplement, no doubt,

the sterling work UNIFIL has been doing so far

:sarcasm:

[Englander]

5. Israeli tank shells wound UN peacekeeper in Lebanon

BEIRUT, July 16 (Reuters) - An Indian soldier who is part of the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon was wounded on Sunday when two Israeli tank shells hit his position in the border village of Houla, a U.N. spokesman said.

Another base run by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in a southern village near Bint Jbeil was also hit, but no one was wounded.

"The wounded soldier was evacuated to a medical facility," spokesman Milos Strugar told Reuters.

UNFIL was created in 1978, after Israel's first major incursion into southern Lebanon and has been there ever since.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L16117217.htm

[eyl]

6. Can't find the article now

But I saw earlier a report that there were Hizbullah positions right outside the UN posts.

[Englander]

8. Was it from WorldNetDaily? n/t

[eyl]

9. No

from one of the Israeli news sites.

And it would hardly be unprecedented

[pelsar]

10. its true...not hard to see from the N. border

Hizballa placed many of the posts next to the UN look outs.....simple to guess why..works well on those with simplistic views

as far as the UN force..will they be like the Danes...ready to run at a moments notice?....

[eyl]

7. Israel may consent to int'l force

On Sunday, senior diplomatic officials said
Israel will not rule out an international presence in southern Lebanon to prevent Hizbullah from returning there after the completion of the current military operation.

The official said this would undoubtedly be on the agenda when a high-level delegation headed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's senior adviser V.J. Nambiar and Terje Roed-Larsen arrives on Tuesday.

Diplomatic officials said that what was being discussed was something that went beyond UNIFIL, and would be more like the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in Sinai, the multinational peace-keeping force stationed there.

However, a senior source in the Prime Minister's Office said, "We are not even close to that point," and that Israel wanted to see the Lebanese army deploy along Israel's northern border.

JPost

[pelsar]

11. except that..

hizballa has to be really weakened, and the lebanese army has to come down south, otherwise all they have to do is throw some fire crackers and the lebanese army will run and the UN force will head for their bunkers....