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なおこの決定には12人の閣僚中、9人が賛成し、3人が棄権した。オルメルト首相は閣議前には南レバノンでの地上作戦拡大が、イスラエル国防軍に数百人の犠牲を強いるなどを理由に懸念を示していたが、最終的には地上作戦拡大は承認された。
Olmert and Peretz to decide on extent and timing of operation
Security cabinet okays decision to expand ground operation in Lebanon
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/748019.html
By Aluf Benn, Shmuel Rosner and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents
The security cabinet approved Wednesday a broader ground offensive by the Israel Defense Forces in Lebanon, authorizing troops to push at least up to the Litani River some 30 kilometers from the Israel-Lebanon border.
The IDF's goal is to significantly reduce Hezbollah's short-range rocket launching capabilities. Most Katyusha rocket launches take place from within this area.
The cabinet authorized Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz to widen the offensive and to determine its timing.
The offensive would not begin for two or three days so as not interfere with ongoing efforts to broker a cease-fire at the United Nations, said one minister in the meeting.
Nine of the 12 ministers in the cabinet voted in favor of the move, while the other three abstained. There were no votes against the decision.
Kadima Minister Shimon Peres and Labor Party Minister Ophir Pines-Paz, who abstained from voting, said all diplomatic channels must be exhausted before the war is expanded. Shas's Industry and Trade Minister Eli Yishai also abstained, saying the ground operation should not be widened until air strikes have run their course.
During a break in the cabinet meeting, Olmert telephoned U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to provide her with an update on the situation.
Some ministers had argued that the military must deal more blows to Hezbollah before a Middle East cease-fire is imposed.
Yishai said after the meeting that the proposed new ground offensive in Lebanon was expected to take 30 days.
"The assessment is it will last 30 days. I think it is wrong to make this assessment. I think it will take a lot longer," he said.
Peretz, Mofaz clash over military plan
Defense Minister Amir Peretz clashed Wednesday with his predecessor Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz over military plans for south Lebanon. Mofaz proposed an alternate, reduced-scale deployment plan that he believes would accomplish the declared goals.
Peretz responded harshly to Mofaz's suggestion. A few ministers expressed support for Mofaz's proposal. Olmert calmed the flare up and called on cabinet members to express themselves with dignity.
The security cabinet met as the IDF reported casualties in battles with Hezbollah guerillas in the southern Lebanon villages of Ayta al-Shaab and Dibel.
PM wavered on expansion decision
Olmert was hesitant prior to the meeting on whether to approve the proposed expansion of the IDF ground operation in south Lebanon.
Olmert was concerned that the plan presented by the defense establishment would result in hundreds of casualties, and therefore, wanted to subject it to a careful cost-benefit analysis. In Tuesday's fighting in Lebanon five soldiers were killed and 23 others wounded, two of them seriously.
According to a government source, Olmert had also asked the army to present him with several different options for a ground operation.
A decision to send troops deeper into Lebanon is fraught with considerable risk. In doing so, Israel could set itself up for new criticism that it is sabotaging diplomatic efforts. Also, a wider ground offensive might do little to stop Hezbollah rocket fire on Israel, while sharply increasing the number of casualties among Israeli troops.
While most of the cabinet was expected earlier to back whatever Olmert decides, sources in the Prime Minister's Office said that three to four ministers were likely to oppose a large-scale ground operation regardless of Olmert's position.
The IDF's proposal was for a two-week ground operation that would involve conquering the entire area south of the Litani River, and even a few areas north of it, in order to reduce Hezbollah's short-range rocket launching capabilities.
IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz said Tuesday that such an operation was necessary "in order to end this war differently." People who participated in discussions of the plan with him said they had never heard him speak as forcefully in favor of anything as he did in favor of the proposed ground operation.
Peretz fully supports the army's plan, which he considers essential for Israel to achieve its diplomatic goals.
Lebanon proposes deploying its army in south
The cabinet discussion took place against the background of the new diplomatic situation created by Lebanon's offer to finally deploy its army in the south. Earlier this week, an American-French draft Security Council resolution had proposed a two-stage solution to the conflict: first, a cease-fire, and then, deliberations on stationing a robust international force in south Lebanon.
However, the Lebanese offer has led some Security Council members to argue that the international force can now be scrapped, as the Lebanese Army, backed by the existing UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), will be sufficient.
Thus far, the United States has not accepted this position. The U.S. Tuesday termed Lebanon's proposal "positive" and interesting," but rejected the idea that the Lebanese Army could assume sole responsibility for south Lebanon.
Various administration spokesmen explained that unless the army could bring about a "genuine and long-range solution" to the conflict - in other words, disarm Hezbollah or keep it from attacking Israel - its deployment would be insufficient. And Washington does not believe that the Lebanese Army is capable of dealing with Hezbollah without assistance.
American officials, therefore, are deeply worried that other council members, such as France, might seize on the Lebanese Army's deployment as an excuse to avoid creating such an international force. Israeli officials also said that they now doubt such a force will ever be established.
The Security Council began discussing Lebanon's proposal Tuesday, as well as its reservations to the American-French draft. Lebanon, backed by the Arab League, is demanding that the resolution call for an immediate Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon. The U.S., in contrast, believes that the IDF should not withdraw until an international force is ready to replace it.
However, American officials also stressed in their talks with Israeli counterparts that the administration is committed to ensuring the survival of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government, and this commitment will be a determining factor in its decisions.
Olmert also reacted unenthusiastically to Siniora's offer to deploy the Lebanese Army on Tuesday, saying merely that it was "interesting" and needed study. Government sources explained that Israel wants to know how the proposal will be implemented, and what the Lebanese Army actually intends to do about Hezbollah, before formulating its position.
"We will not be satisfied with vague promises, like Abu Mazen's promises to fight terror in the territories," said one, referring to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
Olmert stressed that Israel insists on full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559, which calls for Hezbollah's disarmament, and believes that this will require "strong military assistance from other countries."
Tuesday's heaviest fighting took place around Bint Jbail, to where Hezbollah fighters had returned when the IDF withdrew from the town after capturing it more than a week ago. According to the army, more than 30 Hezbollah fighters were killed during Tuesday's battles.
- イスラエル閣議、戦線拡大承認 国境の北２０〜３０キロ（朝日新聞） gataro 2006/8/10 10:57:43
(2)
- イスラエル：閣僚「作戦開始は２、３日猶予」 侵攻承認後（毎日新聞） gataro 2006/8/10 11:01:15
(1)
- イスラエル、レバノンへの攻撃拡大を停止＝地元紙（ロイター）／／停戦決議合意（毎日新聞）・・？？ rand 2006/8/10 13:47:41
(0)
- イスラエル、レバノンへの攻撃拡大を停止＝地元紙（ロイター）／／停戦決議合意（毎日新聞）・・？？ rand 2006/8/10 13:47:41
(0)
- イスラエル：閣僚「作戦開始は２、３日猶予」 侵攻承認後（毎日新聞） gataro 2006/8/10 11:01:15
(1)
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