Posted on 08/12/2006 3:41:30 PM PDT by radar101
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Israeli radio she hoped a Lebanon ceasefire would take effect in "a day or so" after approval of a UN resolution by the Lebanese and Israeli cabinets.
Her comments came shortly before Lebanese Finance Minister Jihad Azour told AFP that his government, which includes Hezbollah representatives, unanimously had voted in favor of the UN resolution calling for an end to hostilities with Israel.
He said the approval came "despite some reservations."
Rice said she expected Israel's cabinet to approve the UN resolution Sunday. It provides for the deployment of a robust international peacekeeping force but allows Israel to withdraw gradually from Lebanon and respond to attacks by the Hezbollah militia.
Israel's cabinet is expected to meet Sunday but has already indicated it was also ready to endorse the ceasefire.
Rice said she expected hostilities to end shortly after then.
"I would hope that within no more than a day or so of that, that there would be a cessation of the hostilities on the ground," she said in an interview with Israel's Radio One.
Rice said "the hostilities have been most difficult for civilians, both Israeli and Lebanese."
She added that the widened Israeli offensive did not mean that the Jewish state would halt its military operations once the Lebanese and Israeli governments reach agreement to do so.
"My understanding is that this is part of the normal operations that were contemplated," Rice said of the Israeli push up to the Litani River.
"But that when the ceasefire, the cessation of hostilities comes into being, Israel will stop," Rice said.
Israeli military and political officials said they believed their widened offensive launched overnight would wind down on Monday once Israeli troops have taken control of most of south Lebanon.
Rice explained that since the adoption of the resolution by the UN Security Council late Friday, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has been discussing a ceasefire timetable with Israel and Lebanon.
She added that she expected the resolution to introduce "an enduring ceasefire."
Rice further defended the much-criticized US position of refusing to urge Israel to accept an end to hostilities before now, saying that the conditions were simply not right in the previous weeks.
"One reason, as much as we wanted an immediate stop to the hostilities, that the United States refused to just call for an immediate stop to the hostilities, was that we needed to have in place some conditions that might give us a chance to have an enduring ceasefire," Rice said.
She said the new force operating in southern Lebanon where Hezbollah is based will have more than 15,000 Lebanese soldiers and about 15,000 international troops operating under the existing United Nations UNIFIL team.
Israel launched a massive offensive in Lebanon following a July 12 border attack by Hezbollah in which eight Israeli soldiers were killed and two captured.
DREAM ON.....
Don't hurry on my account!
By August 23?
They should have never sent Rice in the first place. It will just make her look weak and ineffective when the ceasefire falls apart. Someone below Rice's level should have been sent. No ceasefire will hold. This is just going to make America's Sec. of State look bad.
"What am I missing here."
Olmert got the UN resolution he wanted. Now after the resolution he is invading as he should have weeks ago and cleaning out missile and Hezb. from South Lebanon.
After.
Makes no sense.
(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em Down Hezbullies.)
Why is Rice negotiating with terrorist?????? I thought we did not play ball with terrorist..
ATLAS INTERVIEWS JOHN BOLTON
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/
I was surprised when she went at first, but now i disagree with you on the end result.
Yes, I agree the ceasefire will not hold.
But it will not be seen as Rice's fault and righfully so.
Her diplomacy has resulted in a resolution placing blame squarely on Hezbollah and engaging Lebanon and other governments in disarming them.
True, this will not likely work. But in the meantime Israel is allowed to continue going after their rockets and arms, can continue to hold their ground, and - hopefully - remove Olmert, get a real war cabinet and finish the job properly.
Rice has kept the UN and France on the right page and has continued to palce the blame squarely where it belongs and point to the real obstacle to peace.
Condi, you're delusional. Take the NFL Commissioners Job. You're a failure as SECSTATE, lady.
give us a chance to have an enduring ceasefire," Rice said.
lets see....4 weeks ago she was calling it what?
'sustainable' something-or-other, yes?
And I expect monkeys to fly out of my butt in a few days.
YES, what you said.....and if HEZZIES bomb Israel....ISRAEL WILL BOMB HEZZIES!
Marched up the hill and then marched down again.
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