Lebanese cabinet won't force Hezbollah to disarm
Last update - 23:18 16/08/2006
Lebanese cabinet won't force Hezbollah to disarm
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press
The Lebanese cabinet on Wednesday accepted the Lebanese army's plan to deploy in southern Lebanon, and forces are expected to depart for the area south of the Litani River after midnight Thursday.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora was set to announce the imminent deployment.
Also according to the cabinet decision, Hezbollah will not disarm in southern Lebanon, but its members will refrain from carrying weapons in public. The agreement was reached following deliberations with Hezbollah representatives that lasted days.
The Lebanese government's decision contradicts United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, reached last week, which determines that the area south of the Litani River will be free of arms, aside from those held by Lebanese soldiers and UNIFIL troops. The cabinet made the decision after Hezbollah rejected all demands to disarm south of the Litani.
"The weapons of the resistance are the only ones, of all Arabs, that succeeded in standing up to Israel and defeating it. No one can take away the weapons of the resistance, certainly not by force," pro-Syrian Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, who headed the cabinet meeting, said. "The Lebanese army will deploy [in the south] and will be for all the Lebanese," he told reporters.
Al-Jazeera reported Wednesday that Hezbollah rejected all proposals, including that it transfer its weapons to the Lebanese army, transfer its weapons to UNIFIL or allow the Lebanese army to search the organization's positions for weapons. A compromise was reached, according to which Hezbollah will not conduct military activities in southern Lebanon.
In the end Israel will not only not achieve its goal for this war, but will be forced to give e up land.
Peretz all ready wants to hold negotiations with Syria.
The question is negotiating over what?
Giving up the Golan Heights?
