Did anyone bother to tell Israel there's a peace agreement? Or Hizbollah?

[bigtree]

Sat Aug 12, 2006 6:20am ET136

Israel pushes deeper into Lebanon despite U.N. vote

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Israeli forces thrust deeper into Lebanon against fierce Hizbollah resistance on Saturday and air strikes killed up to 20 people, hours after the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution to end the month-old war.

Relief officials said Israel was still denying permission for aid convoys to reach distressed civilians in the south.

Air strikes in the south killed up to 15 people in the village of Rshaf and four civilians in Kharayeb, security sources said. Raids in the Bekaa Valley killed one civilian.

Israeli bombs also hit Beirut's suburbs, roads in the north, electricity pylons near Sidon, the Beirut-Damascus highway and the southern city of Tyre, witnesses and security sources said.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-08-12T123748Z_01_L07726695_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST.xml&pageNumber=1&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage1



Israel has nearly tripled the number of forces in Lebanon

2/08/2006

Israel Defense Forces troops were engaged in heavy exchanges of fire with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on Saturday, as troops pushed northward to the Litani River under cover of intense artillery fire.

Israel has nearly tripled the number of forces in Lebanon as part of its expanded ground war in Lebanon, and expects to fight for another week, despite a United Nations cease-fire resolution, IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz on Saturday.

After the unanimous United Nations Security Council vote Friday on the cease-fire resolution, Israel launched an expanded ground offensive in south Lebanon. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will present the cease-fire resolution to the cabinet Sunday.

IAF strikes and ground assaults kill at least 19 across Lebanon

Israel Air Force air strike and IDF ground attacks continued on Saturday, with missiles and artillery killing at least 19 people across Lebanon, mostly in the south.

more: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/749479.html



Israel pushes deeper after UN vote

August 12, 2006. 10:20pm

Military officials say up to four divisions, containing as many as 40,000 troops, will fight in the expanded offensive.

Further north in Kharayeb, medical sources say an Israeli air strike targeting a pick-up truck has killed at least four civilians.

Security sources say several people were killed and more wounded in an earlier air strike on the Lebanese village of Rshaf.

Witnesses have reported heavy shelling in many areas of south Lebanon, including villages north of the Litani River.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200608/s1713591.htm



IDF dispatches large forces in airlift to Lebanon

It was cleared for publication that the Israeli Air Force dispatched large forces in airlift deep into south Lebanese territory on Friday night, in the framework of expanding the military offensive in the area.

IDF sources describe the operation as the largest carried out by the army in recent years. (Hanan Greenberg)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3290072,00.html



Israel Widens Airstrikes Into Lebanon

Saturday, August 12, 2006

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Israeli warplanes launched wide-ranging airstrikes and sent commandos into the Hezbollah heartland Saturday while the U.N. raced to begin enforcing its new cease-fire blueprint and stop the fighting. Airstrikes killed at least 15 people in one Lebanese village.

Israel also blasted a highway near Lebanon's last open border crossing to Syria as it kept up its full-scale campaign against Hezbollah militants. Long columns of Israeli tanks, troops and armored personnel carriers streamed over the border.

In Sidon, a coastal city between Beirut and the Israeli border, Israeli bombs destroyed a power plant. Farther south, another power facility was hit near Tyre, knocking out electricity to the port, police said.

On Lebanon's northern frontier, Israeli airstrikes hit the highway leading to the Arida border crossing about a mile from the Mediterranean coast. It's the last official border post open for humanitarian convoys and civilians fleeing the country. The highway was impassable, but drivers tried to maneuver through ruts and ditches.

The only other exits from Lebanon are rugged pathways and back roads through deserts or mountains.

http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2006/08/12/ap/international/d8jerjj00.txt



Hezbollah Rockets Attack Northern Israel; 5 Hurt

08-12-060825ET

JERUSALEM (AP)--Hezbollah rockets injured at least five people in Israel on Saturday afternoon after a rocket-free morning, medics said.

A direct hit on a house in Amirim, a northern Israel community, injured two people who were hit by shrapnel. Another strike in the northern town of Kiryat Shemona injured three people.

By mid-afternoon, the army reported 20 rocket strikes on Israel. Hezbollah had been averaging nearly 200 hits each day in its monthlong conflict with Israel.

The Israeli army said Saturday it had destroyed several Hezbollah rocket launchers and killed more than 40 guerrillas on Friday. Israel announced it had nearly tripled the number of troops operating in southern Lebanon - to around 30,000 - just as members of the U.N. Security Council agreed on a cease-fire deal in New York.

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/cgi/NGoto/155577553?-16529

[LostinVA]

1. To answer your questions...

Since when has Israel paid attention to UN resolutions? And, no one sat down at the table with Hezbollah -- which I think needs to be done. It is the ONLY think that has helped taken some of the teeth out of the IRA, and helped make Sinn Fein legit.

[bigtree]

4. 'sitting down' with Syria would have done the trick with Hizbollah

It's just that they aren't interested in talking about what Syria wants; Golan Heights back. They've given Syria no incentive to go to Hizbollah and ask them to stop their shelling . . . but, they're willing to sacrifice more lives instead.

[LostinVA]

9. True -- it just needs to be done in some way

[leftchick]

2. Israel wants to get to the Latani before Sunday

and Hezbollah knows it.

[Fredda Weinberg]

3. I'm glad to see you edit your subject line and note

Hezbollah hasn't stopped shelling. If Lebanon can't control militias inside its borders, Israel has no choice but to protect her citizens.

[bigtree]

5. I wrote just Hizbollah at first rather than 'Or' Hizbollah

but I included them from the start as you can see from the article I provided. If you know of any other action by Hizbollah I'd certainly be interested in you sharing.

[Fredda Weinberg]

20. When I first saw the subject line, it contained just Israel n/t

[bigtree]

25. You are mistaken. I posted as I described.

[bluerum]

8. Israel is not protecting it's citizens - it is fueling hatred and violence

for generations to come.

[Fredda Weinberg]

21. Dude, Israel's been hated for centuries

Even before the modern state was declared.

[lgn19087]

23. And

committing war crimes and murdering hapless innocents along the way.

unconscionable.

[Selatius]

11. At this point, I would have to believe Hezbollah has grown stronger

This was a trap Hezbollah set for Israel, and Israel walked right into it. The result is Hezbollah now has more support among a fractured Lebanese people than it had before the war started. Israel may have won the battles, but Hezbollah has won the war as far as the hearts and minds of Lebanese people go.

[Fredda Weinberg]

22. If the shelling stops, who cares if Hezbollah gains political support?

Let the Army of God feed, clothe and educate the Lebanese people - more power to 'em.

[bigtree]

13. Also Fredda, I want to address what you said about Israel's protection.

I wonder if the 'agreement' includes any safe zone for a peaceful Hizbollah, or if they are fugitive AFTER Israel accepts the agreement. With the defensive component left to Israel in the agreement, will that include military prosecution of an inactive Hizbollah militia, or is there going to be an opportunity for them to stand down without fear of any further retaliation?

That could explain (never excuse) Hizbollah's continued attacks. If you accept that their actions are a defense (barbaric and abhorrent as it is), I wouldn't expect them to stand down militarily until Israel does. Same with Israel. They can't fold up and go home while they're still being shelled.

I don't think enough time has been spent negotiating with the principals in this conflict. Possibly this weekend they'll bother with all of that. In the meantime, there is no real 'agreement', is there? Quite sad. I hope and pray that they can hurry the diplomacy, for the sake of residents of Lebanon and Israel as well.

[Fredda Weinberg]

19. I wouldn't call this barbaric - nor defensive

If Israel can come to terms with Egypt and Jordan, there's no reason to expect that Lebanon can't make a similar agreement. Hezbollah is part of the government now; there's no excuse for ethnic militias to remain in control of sections of the country.

[bigtree]

24. Fredda, I don't think you understood. Hizbollah's assaults are barbaric

to me, not Israel's defense. I have other words for that. I don't think there's any reason at all for Hizbollah to have the types of weapons and arms it has. They are accountable to no government. They should not have the means to disrupt the region on their whim and impulse. They have to be disarmed and disbanded as a military force.

Look at Rice's interview on Meet the Press Sunday where she said twice that Lebanon's government (which has one lone member in the Cabinet) knew nothing of Hizbollah's actions beforehand. I would note that that one Hizbollah Cabinet member was present at the meeting where they voted unanimously to deploy forces as part of a peacekeeping effert that would include action by the UN-bostered Lebanese forces to disarm the militias.

Please allow me to express my deep sorrow over the senseless loss of life in Israel as I have expressed over the lives lost in Lebanon. I have little but utter distain and revulsion for Hizbollah combatants and the leaders who direct them to their violence. Please don't interpret my criticism of Israel's action as an embrace of Hizbollah. My concern is with the innocents caught in the middle. To that end, I feel Israel's actions have been antithetical to their stated cause of enhancing and defending the safety and security of Israel as well as their stated aim of living in peace with their Arab neighbors.

edit: revulsion

[Fredda Weinberg]

28. I don't consider Hezbollah barbaric

I understand what they are trying to accomplish and why they have resorted to the techniques they chose.

[daydreamer]

26. According to your logic, Turkey should bomb the daylight out

of Northern Iraq and Baghdad.

[Fredda Weinberg]

29. Their Kurdish minority? Turkey's attacked them regularly n/t

[sweetheart]

6. looks like hizbullah is defending lebannon

from his bullets. And as his bull appropriates,
the function of the lebannese army in defending
from invaders, such the moral unity in
privatized national security.
His bull acclimates to purchasing from a real
defense contractor, and KBR halliburton will
arm them to defend lebannon properly,
and make a mint in retirement as the
bringers of peace.

Time's men of the year, the arms industry
that protects us all, vigoursly so generously.

[The Magistrate]

12. Hezbollah Claiming To Defend Lebanon, Sir

Is in the odd position of a pyromaniac employed by a fire department, setting blazes to which the department can respond, and at which he can play at being hero. Without the course of provocations embarked on by that body's gun-men, there would be none of this going on today.

[mmonk]

7. Sunday is the magic day.

Until then they seek to continue their military objectives.

[The Magistrate]

10. The Resolution, Sir, Was Crafted To Have No Immediate Effect

It allows action by Israel in "self-defense", and no one expects Hezbollah to cease fire immediately, or any time soonm for that matter. This a loop-hole that, quite literally, an armored column can be driven through....

[bigtree]

15. I wonder if there is a separate round of negotiations going on

with the principals? I hope so. This thing looks pretty dangerous hanging out there without it tied to any commitment from either combatant.

[The Magistrate]

16. Probably There Is, Sir

Through several cut-outs, as neither immediate principal will speak to the other. My guess would be Israel talking to Egypt, which talks to Syria, which talks to Hezbollah, and the replies come through the same chain reversed. In any case, there is not going to be any withdrawl by Israel prior to the appearance and imminent deployment of the force designated to reinforce the U.N.I.F.I.L. people: that mustering is the thing to keep an eye on in gauging when the killing might actually stop. There will certainly be no ceasing fire by Hezbollah until the Israelis are withdrawing, and the Israelis are now aiming to kill as many Hezbollah gun-men as they can encounter, with an eye towards putting a permanent crimp in the organization.

[peacetalksforall]

14. Does this say it all?

"On Lebanon's northern frontier, Israeli airstrikes hit the highway leading to the Arida border crossing about a mile from the Mediterranean coast. It's the last official border post open for humanitarian convoys and civilians fleeing the country. The highway was impassable, but drivers tried to maneuver through ruts and ditches."

Repeated from above.

Repeat. Now that's a word that Israel hating Muslims and Muslim hating Israelites just love to act on. But this time Israel really showed the true stuff of their administration and whoever is calling the killing shots.

1 + 2 hostages. Not exactly tit for tat. Maybe Israel resented our accusations of prolonging things for decades with their tit for tat politics and warring.

Madmen and women are running wild immediately after negotiations and agreements.

[stray cat]

17. There isn't - this is a full barage before it gets signed

[Oversea Visitor]

18. Their action

is for world to judge.
There is a resolution
Whatever one might call it.
If it works it works.
If it do not then UN just plain waste of time.

Then other action needed x(

No big deal
One make the bed one need to sleep in it.

[Name removed]

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