Israel Matzav

What cease fire?

As of 2:00 AM this morning, Israel suspended air operations over Lebanon other than reconaissance flights. But the ground war continues. And this afternoon, the Katyushas continue.

YNet is reporting that several rockets landed in one of the open areas near Kiryat Shmona this afternoon. No one was hurt. Other than that, no rockets have been fired at Israel since about 8:00 last night.

Speaking in the Knesset today, opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu called on the government to continue the war, characterizing the prospect of a missile war beginning any moment as a strategic threat.

"A third of the country is paralyzed because of this. Who knows whether this will include other citizens as well. This is a strategic threat…that requires a strategic victory. Those were the objectives set out by the government, justly, wisely, and boldly. They were presented to the security cabinet on the 13th of this month."

He urged the government not to stop midway, and to complete the war.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz agrees. He said that the government will expand ground operations in Southern Lebanon. Peretz told the Knesset:

"Under no circumstance will there be an unconditional and immediate cease-fire. There is no change in our resolve."

Senior officers in the northern command criticized the decision to suspend air operations, saying that it had taken them by complete surprise and that they had learned about it from the media (not surprising since the US State Department spokesman announced it before Israel officially agreed!).

Justice Minister Haim Ramon, who is normally considered a dove, told Army Radio:

If the war ends today, it would be a victory for Hizbullah and global terrorism and would have far reaching consequences.

I'm convinced that we won't finish this war until it's clear that Hizbullah has no more abilities to attack Israel from south Lebanon. This is what we are striving for.

The Jerusalem Post is reporting that the IAF did carry out one more operation three miles from the Syrian border before the cease fire went into effect:

Despite the suspension, IAF jets reportedly carried out two raids at approximately 1:30 a.m. near the village of Yanta, about five kilometers (three miles) from the Syrian border.

The IDF confirmed the earlier highway attack that came before the halt in aerial attacks. The cessation went into effect at 2 a.m. on Monday morning.

Lebanon has made itself a party to the negotiations. Its foreign minister said today that it would not accept any offer until there is first an unconditional cease fire:

"We will not accept any offer before an immediate and complete cease-fire. Rice is giving Olmert more time," Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh said on Monday in response to comments made by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urging UN action on a resolution that would ensure a comprehensive settlement to the crisis.

You have to wonder how clueless the Lebanese government can be:

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said that Hizbullah's victory was a victory of the entire Lebanese nation. He warned that the Lebanese army "would join the battle" if Israel launches a large-scale invasion of Lebanon.

Lahoud stressed that Hizbullah cannot be disarmed since the Lebanese army was not as strong as the IDF. He objected to the deployment of a new international force in southern Lebanon but noted that Lebanon would support the strengthening of the existing UNIFIL force.

Someone ought to tell Lahoud to read Al-Guardian.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:30 PM