ISRAEL today suspended air strikes in southern Lebanon for 48 hours while it investigates the Qana bombings, US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said.
"Israel has agreed to a 48-hour suspension of aerial activity in south Lebanon," Mr Ereli told reporters after talks between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and top Israeli officials.
Israel would also coordinate with the United Nations on a 24-hour period of "safe passage" for civilians that wish to leave the area, Mr Ereli said.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,19966852-23109,00.html
US: IAF to suspend activity over Lebanon for 48 hours
Israel agreed to a 48-hour suspension of aerial activity over southern Lebanon after it bombed a Lebanese village on Sunday and a number of children died, a US official said.
The attack marred US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's weeklong mission to halt the fighting between Israel and Hizbullah.
The suspension of over-flights was announced by US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli. He said Israel has reserved the right to attack targets if it learns that attacks are being prepared against them.
"The United States welcomes this decision and hopes that it will help relieve the suffering of the children and families of southern Lebanon," Ereli told reporters traveling with Rice.
Israel had not yet confirmed the American report.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Rice met Sunday night and discussed the IAF attack and conditions for a cease-fire, including the proposed deployment of an international force there, an official said.
During the meeting, Olmert's military secretary, Gadi Shamni, briefed Rice about the Qana attack and explained that Hizbullah had used the town to fire rockets at Israel, the official said on condition of anonymity because the two-hour Olmert-Rice talks in Jerusalem were private.
The official provided no details about the conditions for a cease-fire or the deployment of a peacekeeping force that were discussed.
The official and Olmert's office both said the fate of the disputed Shaba Farms territory was not talked about.
Israel has not ruled out withdrawing from the area, and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is not opposed the discussion of the territory as part of negotiations for a long-term cease-fire arrangement, an official in her ministry said.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1153292036616&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter
According to US State Departmant Spokesman Adam Ereli...
Culled from your own post, bnelson44, and for all FReepers I ping to this nugget of info...