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'No time limit' in Gaza, Lebanon
19/07/2006 13:04 - (SA)
Jerusalem - Israel's security cabinet met on Wednesday and decided that the country's twin offensives in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon would continue with no time limit, a senior government official said.
The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, was convened in order to approve the next stage of the operation.
"The security cabinet met this morning and decided on the continuation of the offensives in Lebanon and Gaza with no time limit," the official said.
'Intensive war'
The cabinet called the campaign in Lebanon, which the army has named Operation Just Reward, an "intensive war against Hezbollah", the source added.
Ministers defined the principles for negotiations, firstly the unconditional release of two soldiers snatched by Hezbollah guerrillas and a third taken by Palestinians, and implementation of resolution 1559, the source said.
UN security council resolution 1559, like its follow-up 1680, calls for the pullout of all foreign forces from Lebanon, the disarmament of all militias and deployment of the Lebanese army rather than Hezbollah on the Israeli border.
Diplomatic process
Foreign minister Tzipi Livni said, following talks with visiting EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, that Israel was involved in a diplomatic as well as military process but declined to elaborate.
"We are conducing a diplomatic process in parallel with military action," Livni told journalists.
"The more the army weakens Hezbollah, the more it will be easier for Israel and the international community to carry out UN security council resolution 1559 and disarm Hezbollah."
Differences over ceasefire
Army radio reported that the cabinet convened because of differences between ministers over diplomatic contacts for a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Foreign ministry officials are reportedly interested in opening a diplomatic channel alongside the military action, while Olmert's office believes it is too early to work for an agreement that would stop the fighting, the radio said.
More than 300 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel unleashed a massive military assault it says is aimed at destroying the Hezbollah group after the its militants captured two soldiers a week ago.
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