ISRAEL - IRAN - SYRIA - HAMAS - HEZBOLLAH - WWWIII?

If you've been reading the Israeli press (an adventurous surmise) you'll have some notion of the growing sentiment in Israel that this operation was at best ill-advised and at worst, stupidly counter-productive and damaging to Israel's own interests.

Text: UN Lebanon resolution 1701

by: Media Team

The Security Council,

Recalling all its previous resolutions on Lebanon, in particular resolutions 425 (1978), 426 (1978), 520 (1982), 1559 (2004), 1655 (2006), 1680 (2006) and 1697 (2006), as well as the statements of its president on the situation in Lebanon, in particular the statements of 18 June, 2000, of 19 October, 2004, of 4 May 2005, of 23 January 2006 and of 30 July 2006;

Expressing its utmost concern at the continuing escalation of hostilities in Lebanon and in Israel since Hezbollah's attack on Israel on 12 July 2006, which has already caused hundreds of deaths and injuries on both sides, extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons;

Emphasizing the need for an end of violence, but at the same time emphasizing the need to address urgently the causes that have given rise to the current crisis, including by the unconditional release of the abducted Israeli soldiers;

Mindful of the sensitivity of the issue of prisoners and encouraging the efforts aimed at urgently settling the issue of the Lebanese prisoners detained in Israel;

Welcoming the efforts of the Lebanese prime minister and the commitment of the government of Lebanon, in its seven-point plan, to extend its authority over its territory, through its own legitimate armed forces, such that there will be no weapons without the consent of the government of Lebanon and no authority other than that of the government of Lebanon, welcoming also its commitment to a UN force that is supplemented and enhanced in numbers, equipment, mandate and scope of operation, and bearing in mind its request in this plan for an immediate withdrawal of the Israeli forces from Southern Lebanon;

Determined to act for this withdrawal to happen at the earliest;

Taking due note of the proposals made in the seven-point plan regarding the Shebaa farms area;

Welcoming the unanimous decision by the government of Lebanon on 7 August 2006 to deploy a Lebanese armed force of 15,000 troops in south Lebanon as the Israeli army withdraws behind the Blue Line and to request the assistance of additional forces from UNIFIL as needed, to facilitate the entry of the Lebanese armed forces into the region and to restate its intention to strengthen the Lebanese armed forces with material as needed to enable it to perform its duties;

Aware of its responsibilities to help secure a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution to the conflict;

Determining that the situation in Lebanon constitutes a threat to international peace and security;

1. Calls for a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in particular, the immediate cessation by Hezbollah of all attacks and the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations;

2. Upon full cessation of hostilities, calls upon the government of Lebanon and UNIFIL as authorized by paragraph 11 to deploy their forces together throughout the South and calls upon the government of Israel, as that deployment begins, to withdraw all of its forces from southern Lebanon in parallel;

3. Emphasizes the importance of the extension of the control of the government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory in accordance with the provisions of resolution 1559 (2004) and resolution 1680 (2006), and of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, for it to exercise its full sovereignty, so that there will be no weapons without the consent of the government of Lebanon and no authority other than that of the government of Lebanon;

4. Reiterates its strong support for full respect for the Blue Line;

5. Also reiterates its strong support, as recalled in all its previous relevant resolutions, for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders, as contemplated by the Israeli-Lebanese General Armistice Agreement of 23 March 1949;

6. Calls on the international community to take immediate steps to extend its financial and humanitarian assistance to the Lebanese people, including through facilitating the safe return of displaced persons and, under the authority of the government of Lebanon, reopening airports and harbours, consistent with paragraphs 14 and 15, and calls on it also to consider further assistance in the future to contribute to the reconstruction and development of Lebanon;

7. Affirms that all parties are responsible for ensuring that no action is taken contrary to paragraph 1 that might adversely affect the search for a long-term solution, humanitarian access to civilian populations, including safe passage for humanitarian convoys, or the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons, and calls on all parties to comply with this responsibility and to cooperate with the Security Council;

8. Calls for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution based on the following principles and elements:


Full respect for the Blue Line by both parties;
security arrangements to prevent the resumption of hostilities, including the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani river of an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the government of Lebanon and of UNIFIL as authorized in paragraph 11, deployed in this area;
Full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, and of resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), that require the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, so that, pursuant to the Lebanese cabinet decision of July 27, 2006, there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than that of the Lebanese state;
No foreign forces in Lebanon without the consent of its government;
No sales or supply of arms and related materiel to Lebanon except as authorized by its government;
Provision to the United Nations of all remaining maps of land mines in Lebanon in Israel's possession;
9. Invites the secretary general to support efforts to secure as soon as possible agreements in principle from the government of Lebanon and the government of Israel to the principles and elements for a long-term solution as set forth in paragraph 8, and expresses its intention to be actively involved;

10. Requests the secretary general to develop, in liaison with relevant international actors and the concerned parties, proposals to implement the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, and resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), including disarmament, and for delineation of the international borders of Lebanon, especially in those areas where the border is disputed or uncertain, including by dealing with the Shebaa farms area, and to present to the Security Council those proposals within 30 days;

11. Decides, in order to supplement and enhance the force in numbers, equipment, mandate and scope of operations, to authorize an increase in the force strength of UNIFIL to a maximum of 15,000 troops, and that the force shall, in addition to carrying out its mandate under resolutions 425 and 426 (1978):


a. Monitor the cessation of hostilities;

b. Accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout the South, including along the Blue Line, as Israel withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon as provided in paragraph 2;

c. Coordinate its activities related to paragraph 11 (b) with the government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel;

d. Extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons;

e. Assist the Lebanese armed forces in taking steps towards the establishment of the area as referred to in paragraph 8;

f. Assist the government of Lebanon, at its request, to implement paragraph 14;
12. Acting in support of a request from the government of Lebanon to deploy an international force to assist it to exercise its authority throughout the territory, authorizes UNIFIL to take all necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces and as it deems within its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind, to resist attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council, and to protect United Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers, and, without prejudice to the responsibility of the government of Lebanon, to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence;

13. Requests the secretary general urgently to put in place measures to ensure UNIFIL is able to carry out the functions envisaged in this resolution, urges member states to consider making appropriate contributions to UNIFIL and to respond positively to requests for assistance from the Force, and expresses its strong appreciation to those who have contributed to UNIFIL in the past;

14. Calls upon the government of Lebanon to secure its borders and other entry points to prevent the entry in Lebanon without its consent of arms or related materiel and requests UNIFIL as authorized in paragraph 11 to assist the government of Lebanon at its request;

15. Decides further that all states shall take the necessary measures to prevent, by their nationals or from their territories or using their flag vessels or aircraft;


a. the sale or supply to any entity or individual in Lebanon of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned, whether or not originating in their territories, and;

b. the provision to any entity or individual in Lebanon of any technical training or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of the items listed in subparagraph (a) above, except that these prohibitions shall not apply to arms, related material, training or assistance authorized by the government of Lebanon or by UNIFIL as authorized in paragraph 11;
16. Decides to extend the mandate of UNIFIL until 31 August 2007, and expresses its intention to consider in a later resolution further enhancements to the mandate and other steps to contribute to the implementation of a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution;

17. Requests the secretary general to report to the Council within one week on the implementation of this resolution and subsequently on a regular basis;

18. Stresses the importance of, and the need to achieve, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on all its relevant resolutions including its resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973;

19. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

NEGOTIATING WITH HEZBOLLAH

Syria's Price for Peace

By Gabriela Keller in Damascus

Syria may be willing to use its clout with Hezbollah to help end the current conflict in the Middle East -- but at a price. Syria wants the Golan Heights back from Israel. If it doesn't get it, more violence may result.

Posters of Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are everywhere in Damascus.
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REUTERS
Posters of Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are everywhere in Damascus.
The yellow Hezbollah flag has been raised all over Damascus -- flying from cars, draped over balconies and plastered on the sides of buildings all over the city. Images of Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah are likewise omnipresent: tens of thousands of posters and placards depicting the Hezbollah leader have flooded the city. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is usually shown by his side. Sometimes they are depicted as standing in front of a fiery bomb explosion -- digitally brightened for the greatest Technicolor effect. Young men download Nasrallah's sermons as ring tones for their cell phones, and even Christians light candles for the Shiite leader in church.

In the historical city center, Damascus resident Faiga Fachouri is browsing the stands selling T-shirts emblazoned with the round and bearded face of Nasrallah. "We're glad Syria is on Hezbollah's side," the 55-year-old says. "Israel is planning to destroy our countries. Nasrallah is fighting to defend our life and our honor. That's why he's a hero to us."

Hezbollah -- in Syria at least -- is so far the winner of the war being fought in Lebanon. The militant group now has the reverence of the Syrian people, even as it has long had the support of the Syrian regime. It is this support which has led the United States and Israel to place responsibility for Hezbollah's attacks on Israel squarely on the shoulders of Syria. But the longer the Israeli military campaign in Lebanon continues, the more observers in the West agree that the road to peace leads through Damascus. Experts believe that the Syrian leadership is in close touch with the Shiite militia. Its influence could be the key to peace.

The U.N. Security Council has unanimously called for an end to the bloodshed between Israel and Hizbullah and for the deployment of a 15,000-strong international peacekeeping force to prevent further conflict.
But the resolution, passed late Friday, was followed by an Israeli army announcement that it had launched a widescale offensive in south Lebanon early Saturday.

Also, hours after the text was adopted, Israeli warplanes staged raids throughout Lebanon, targeting roads leading to Syria and destroying the electricity plant in south Lebanon's major city Sidon, security officials said, adding that several people had been killed.

Resolution 1701, drawn up by the United States and France calls for Israeli troops to be withdrawn from southern Lebanon after an end to the fighting.

The council called for "a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in particular, the immediate cessation by Hizbullah of all attacks and the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations."

A few hours before the resolution was passed, an Israeli drone fired at a convoy of refugees being evacuated from the southern town of Marjayoun, killing at least seven people and wounding 36.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert endorsed the resolution shortly after it was adopted and decided to urge his cabinet to accept it when it meets Sunday, an Israeli government spokesman said.

However, his military later said it was going ahead with formerly approved plans for a ground offensive up to the Litani.

"In line with Wednesday's decision by the security cabinet, the army has launched a ground operation in south Lebanon which is expected to extend up to the Litani river," an army spokesman said.

"Ground troops will benefit from air and sea cover," he added.

In one of the most dramatic development in the fighting Friday, an Israeli unmanned plane fired at the convoy, which included a 350 joint Lebanese army and police force as well as 500 civilian cars. They left Marjayoun after hours of U.N. mediated negotiations which succeeding in receiving Israeli assurances for the convoy's safety.

The attack came as the convoy was en route from Jib Jannin to Kefraya in the south of the Bekaa valley, security officials said. They said most of the casualties were civilians.

"The Israeli forces had been told in advance of the convoy's passage, and had given it the green light," UNIFIL spokesman Milos Strugar said.

"We are trying to find out what happened," he added.

The Lebanese cabinet was to meet Saturday and U.S. officials said it was also expected to accept the resolution.

But Lebanese acting Foreign Minister Tarek Mitri expressed profound doubts about the likelihood of the resolution being able to end the month-old war.

"A ceasefire that is incomplete is not a true ceasefire. A ceasefire that retains for one side the right not to cease firing is not a ceasefire," Mitri said.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran and Syria -- considered Hizbullah's main backers -- to respect the resolution, which she said should lay the basis for "lasting peace" between Israel and Lebanon.

But U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said the time it had taken the major powers to call for a cessation of hostilities had "badly shaken" the world's faith in the council.

The text calls on Lebanon and UNIFIL to "deploy their forces together" in the south, while Israel must "withdraw all of its forces from southern Lebanon in parallel" to the deployment.

The first version of the French-U.S. text had not mentioned a withdrawal and Lebanon had objected, demanding an immediate Israeli pullout.

The text also authorizes an increase in UNIFIL's strength to a maximum of 15,000 troops from its current size of about 1,190 troops. Lebanon plans to send 15,000 troops to the south.

UNIFIL will monitor the cessation of hostilities and any permanent ceasefire and back up Lebanese armed forces as they deploy across the region now dominated by Hizbullah.

Israel has criticized UNIFIL, which has failed to prevent Hizbullah attacks in recent years, and demanded a more "robust" international force in terms of size and powers to restrain Hizbullah be deployed.

The resolution gives UNIFIL the power to "take all necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces, and as it deems within its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind."

The text did not say which chapter of the U.N. charter it would be organized under. The United States had wanted a mandate under chapter seven which would give it greater military muscle.

This was opposed by Lebanon. But a senior U.S. State Department official said the force "will be able to defend itself and has a very strong mandate which you would see in a chapter seven resolution."

French ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said he thought the extra troops could be deployed "very swiftly" as it is the strengthening of an existing U.N. force and not the creation of a new entity.

A U.S. official said a meeting could be held at the U.N. headquarters on Saturday for potential troop contributors.

The resolution also calls for the "unconditional release" of two Israeli soldiers whose abduction by Hizbullah sparked the start of the war on July 12.

Lebanon had raised late questions about the status of the international force and the future of the disputed Shabaa Farms border region, which Israel has occupied since 1967.

The text calls for U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to make proposals to settle the Shabaa Farms dispute within 30 days of the vote.(AFP-AP-Naharnet) (AP photo shows a convoy of Israeli army military vehicles and troops preparing to advance into southern Lebanon)

Do you actually see this "ceasefire" taking hold within one week or anything like that? I mean, to me it looks like all sides in this thing are simply playing the system. Israel might be stalling for time trying to set up phalanx guns or something like that to shoot the fricking katyushas down, I don't know. It was a big mistake not having that set up aforehand.

Only if one allows oneself the luxury of being even-handed.

But we are supposed to be at war and even-handedness is inapproriate in wars.

To McTag, how does one attach any notion of 'facism' to modern Jews or the State of Israel? The Islamic facists fit every point of the definition. I fail to see how the Israelis do.

spendius wrote:

Only if one allows oneself the luxury of being even-handed.

But we are supposed to be at war and even-handedness is inapproriate in wars.

Maybe one of your most astute observations, Spendius.

To McTag, how does one attach any notion of 'facism' to modern Jews or the State of Israel? The Islamic facists fit every point of the definition. I fail to see how the Israelis do.