Israel Matzav

Israel Threatened to Bomb Beirut Yesterday

After Hezbullah's Katyusha rocket fire yesterday and Israel's response against Hezbullah bases in Southern Lebanon, a cease fire was quickly established. YNet is now reporting based on a report in London-based Arabic newspaper al-Hayat and Lebanese newspaper al-Nahar that part of the reason that the cease fire happened so quickly (yesterday) was that Israel threatened to bomb Beirut if the Katyusha's continued to fall:

The ceasefire followed unequivocal threats by Israel and determined diplomatic action by the United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

London-based Arabic newspaper al-Hayat said that in an attempt to prevent the crisis, Siniora turned to the United Nations' representative in Lebanon, Gier Pederson, and the American and French ambassadors, as well as to Hizbullah leadership.

...

After various attempts, including efforts by Lebanese intelligence, which held discussions with the Hizbullah leadership, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and Islamic Jihad , failed, Saad Hariri, son of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri [who was assassinated by the Syrians CiJ], intervened directly. Hariri today heads the anti-Syrian camp. He spoke with the Hizbullah leadership a number of times, we well as with European and international sources.

...

These talks succeeded in the end in finding an agreement that a ceasefire between the sides would begin at 5:17 p.m. exactly. It was also said that the ceasefire was only made possible after a direct intervention by the UN Security Council and the US Secretary of State. Lebanese newspaper al-Nahar said that after Israel threatened to bomb Beirut if the Katyusha rockets continued, Rice directly intervened through the American embassy in Lebanon.

Read the whole thing.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:11 PM