UN Ceasefire Resolution Looks Unlikely This Week
Ryan R. Jones - All Headline News Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - The successful adoption of a UN Security Council resolution calling for an end to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah appears increasingly unlikely this week, as the US and France take opposing views on accommodating Arab amendments to their original draft proposal. The text currently on the table calls for a full cessation of hostilities, but does not demand an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon in apparent anticipation of Hezbollah non-compliance. Qatar, the only Arab state the Security Council at this time, has warned against approving the resolution in its current form, insisting it will only exacerbate the situation. A delegation of Arab foreign ministers arrived in New York Tuesday to seek sweeping changes to the document. According to diplomatic sources cited by the AP, shortly after the arrival of the Arab officials, France put forward amendments urging an immediate and total ceasefire, including a full pullout of Israeli forces. Washington maintains that taking that route will create a vacuum in southern Lebanon that even Beirut's proposed deployment of 15,000 Lebanese troops will not be able to prevent Hezbollah from again filling. Fearing the Arab position would prevail upon the Security Council members, the AP reported that Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz told visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walt |
