The Israeli Security Cabinet today approved an expansion of the ground war in Lebanon and resumption of air strikes after tomorrow’s expiration of the 48 hour moratorium:
JERUSALEM, July 31 — Israel rejected the prospect of a cease-fire in the coming days in its war with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia, launching new ground and air operations against the radical Shiite Muslim group a day after announcing a 48-hour partial suspension of airstrikes in the wake of a devastating attack on a south Lebanese village.
Later Monday, Israel’s security cabinet unanimously approved a widening of the ground operations in Lebanon in a four-hour meeting, government officials said.
The security cabinet also decided that airstrikes in Lebanon would resume “in full force” after the suspension expires in another day, a meeting participant said, according to the Associated Press. The group rejected any cease-fire until an international force was deployed in southern Lebanon, AP reported.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, speaking to a gathering of mayors in Tel Aviv, earlier ruled out a cease-fire until two Israeli soldiers seized by Hezbollah have been returned and the threat from Hezbollah rocket attacks has been removed.
“The fighting continues,” he said. “There is no cease-fire, and there will not be any cease-fire in the coming days.”
Clearly, Israel is determined to do everything it can to create the security zone it has been saying it requires before any cease fire would be agreed to. Since neither Hezbollah nor the international community seems prepared to do anything to bring about that reality, its clear that force of arms is the only alternative left. And, frankly, I can’t say that Israel is doing the wrong thing here.
