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The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1701 Friday evening, calling for a cessation of hostilities between Hizbullah and Israel. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will recommend to the cabinet that it accept the UNSC resolution at its weekly meeting Sunday. The resolution authorizes the deployment of 15,000 UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon in support of Lebanese army forces, which are to move into the region and replace Hizbullah in parallel with a withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel is not required to withdraw until the deployment of UN and Lebanese forces begins. The new UN peacekeeping force, still under the...

JERUSALEM - Israel is studying Lebanon's offer to deploy some 15,000 Lebanese troops along the Israel-Lebanon border to take control of the Hezbollah stronghold, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday. Israel has long demanded a deployment of Lebanese forces in southern Lebanon, along with the disarming of Hezbollah guerrillas. However, it appeared Israeli leaders were reluctant to embrace Lebanon's offer more strongly because of concern it might be a ploy to get Israeli troops out of south Lebanon. Olmert suggested Tuesday that Israel would want to see the deployment of Lebanese troops along with a strong multinational force in...

espite the furious diplomatic debate over how and in what sequence it will be implemented, the peace plan for Lebanon requires the following: Israeli forces will withdraw; an international force will be deployed in southern Lebanon; Hizballah will be disarmed; and protection of the border will be handed over to the Lebanese Army. In essence, though the Lebanese Army is envisaged as the foundation of the long-term solution, it has remained remarkably silent during the three-week war on what is, legally at least, its own territory. And the reasons for its passivity may hold important clues to the final shape...

Associated Press The United States plans to help train and equip the Lebanese army so it can take control of all of its territory when the warfare between Israel and Hezbollah eases, the State Department said Thursday. The program was approved by Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to take effect "once we have conditions on the ground permitting," said department spokesman Sean McCormack. McCormack provided no details on what equipment the United States might provide, the type of training that would be conducted, how many U.S. personnel would be involved, or how much...

(CNSNews.com) - Empowering the Lebanese Army is seen as a key element in resolving the Mideast crisis, but the army's makeup and its attitude towards Hizballah raise serious questions about the feasibility of the plan. The commander of the national army, Gen. Michel Suleiman, has made little attempt -- both before and during the current conflict -- to hide his support for Hizballah, the Shi'ite terrorist group also known in Lebanon as "the resistance." In a speech delivered Tuesday, Suleiman said the ongoing cooperation between Hizballah and the army "guarantees ... the country's unity," Beirut's Daily Star reported. The 58-year-old...

The United States will allocate $US10 million ($13 million) dollars for the Lebanese army so that it can move into the border zone near Israel currently controlled by the Hezbollah militia, the State Department said overnight. The aid is meant to help Lebanon modernise its force by purchasing spare parts for armoured personnel carriers and other vehicles needed to patrol the zone, as well communications equipment, Tom Casey, a State Department spokesman said. Congress must still approve the assistance, which is aimed at helping Lebanon work with an international force for the zone backed Friday in Washington by US...