Security Cabinet approves expanding ground operation in south Lebanon; forces will be sent to take out Katyusha launchers. Olmert, Peretz, authorized to determine scope of action. IDF's recommended target: Litani River
Ronny Sofer

VIDEO - Against the difficult backdrop of casualties in southern Lebanon , the Security Cabinet approved the widening of operations in Lebanon. Soldiers will now be sent to operate against rocket launchers across the region. The aim – to find and destroy rocket launchers used to attack northern Israel . Nine cabinet ministers supported the operation, while three – Ophir Pines, Shimon Peres, and Eli Yishai – abstained.

Cabinet members authorized the prime minister and defense minister to set the boundaries and outline of the operation. In recent days an operation until the Litani River had been discussed, in accordance with IDF recommendations.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz supported in recent days the recommendation, and it was earlier reported that he will announce during the cabinet meeting that Israel would deal with areas used to fire rockets. He said the government had no intention of giving up Israel's right to provide protection for civilians and that there would be no diplomatic agreement that would not guarantee quiet and stability for many years to come.

National Infrastructure Minister Eli Yishai backed the position of the majority upon leaving the meeting: "The defense minister and the prime minister will decide the precise timing of when the military operation will be expanded. In my opinion, it will go on for 30 days. We are in a war and there is a need to expand operations. It's correct to act in a more wide-scale manner."

With that, Yishai added that he thought most operations should be aerial. "In the fight against Hizbullah we won. The dealing with the Katyusha rockets is different and therefore we must act aggressively and not abandon aerial activities. In my opinion, whole villages should be removed from the air when we have verified information that Katyusha rockets are being fired from there."

During the Cabinet session, the prime minister spoke with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Up to now there are no reports of what the conversation was about.

Wednesday morning, before arriving at the cabinet meeting, Defense Minister Peretz met with the German Foreign Minister, Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The two examined, among other things, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's proposal to deploy 15 thousand soldiers from the Lebanese army in the south of the country in order to ensure quiet in the area. The German minister arrived in Israel after a visit in Lebanon, during which he met with Siniora himself.

Peretz said to Steinmeier: "We are fighting against the Iranian commando, which is armed with sophisticated, modern weaponry. This includes Russian-made anti-tank missiles, which in the past it was promised would not fall into the hands of Hizbullah. This weapon is used today against IDF soldiers in Lebanon."

"Even if Siniora has good intentions," the defense minister added, "Nasrallah has other intentions. Therefore, the international community must ensure that the political agreement will be valid, and not of the type that crumbles and evaporates after a short time."

Peretz warned Steinmeier of the possibility that Israel will again be faced with the threat of terrorism from Lebanon: "We are fighting the war of the free world against terror and we expect the international community to support this struggle. However, we intend to deal with the Katyusha launching pads on our own. This is my position as I will present it to the security cabinet convening Wednesday morning."