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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Mideast peace deal reached at U.N.
2006-08-11
JERUSALEM - Israel launched an expanded ground offensive into southern Lebanon on Friday as U.N. diplomats worked furiously on a cease-fire deal to deploy 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers to bring an end the monthlong conflict with Hezbollah.

Israel expressed dissatisfaction over an initial cease-fire plan, saying it failed to meet its basic requirements, such as stationing robust international combat troops in southern Lebanon once Israel withdraws. But after France and the U.S. reached a deal on a revised draft resolution, Israel indicated it may accept the new arrangement and call off its offensive. The U.N. Security Council was expected to vote on the text later Friday.

The draft Security Council resolution circulated Friday would authorize the deployment of the 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers in south Lebanon to support the Lebanese army's deployment to the region "as Israel withdraws."
No mention which countries will be supplying the troops, huh? The French will of course run the mission and logistical HQ from Cyprus.
The draft, obtained by The Associated Press, would ask the U.N. force to monitor a full cessation of hostilities and help Lebanese forces gain full control over an area that has previously been under de facto control of Hezbollah militias.

The text of the draft says the force's mandate would include several elements: monitoring the cessation of hostilities, accompanying Lebanese troops as they deploy and as Israel withdraws, and ensuring humanitarian access to the area.

About 2,000 useless U.N. troops and observers are now stationed in Lebanon, as they have been since 1978. The draft would authorize an increase to a total of 15,000 troops.
If they're of the same quality and have the same mission as UNIFIL, the Israelis might as well keep on fighting.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was reviewing the draft, and an individual close to the government, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations, said there was a “good chance” Israel would accept it.

Britain’s U.N. Ambassador Emyr Jones-Parry said the resolution would give a U.N. force in Lebanon an enhanced mandate to help coordinate the eventual withdrawal of Israeli troops. But it would ultimately be deployed under Chapter 6 of the U.N. Charter — which Israel has previously opposed. That decision was a key concession to Lebanon and Hezbollah. Israel wanted the force deployed under the Charter’s Chapter 7, which would give the troops more robust rules of engagement. “You’ll find that the mandate for the force is very robust,” Jones-Parry said.
Just another UNIFIL.
“Although the government of Lebanon will have gained a certain amount in the changes that we’ve made, it’s also the case that Israel has had concerns and no one has wanted to lose Israel from that equation,” he said.

The two sides sent the new text to the governments of Israel and Lebanon, but a French diplomat said the vote would go ahead whatever the response.
Posted by:mcsegeeek1

#2  If Israel capitulates to Hizb'Allah and the UN now, we will have lost the opportunity to take the offensive and win WW IV.

How many tens of millions will die in the next few years because of this?
Posted by: Kalle   2006-08-11 21:08  

#1  Time to start preparing for the next round.
Posted by: gromgoru   2006-08-11 20:59  

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