EU and Arab states say Lebanon's concerns have to be factored in

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to an eventual peace plan . . .

Lebanon's Proposals Change Dynamics
Arab Delegation to Meet With Security Council as Bush Urges Swift Action

By Michael A. Fletcher and Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, August 8, 2006; Page A15

CRAWFORD, Tex., Aug. 7 -- U.S. diplomatic efforts to end the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah stalled Monday amid growing divisions over terms to end the conflict. President Bush called for swift passage of a U.N. resolution, but Lebanon won Arab League support for major revisions to expedite a cease-fire and withdrawal of Israeli forces.

After talks with the Lebanese government Monday, an Arab League delegation is scheduled to meet today with the U.N. Security Council to press for amendments to the proposal, prompting officials to postpone a vote on the resolution until later in the week.

In a dramatic move, Lebanon's government, including cabinet ministers belonging to Hezbollah, voted unanimously on Monday to deploy 15,000 troops in the south along the border with Israel. It also proposed two major amendments to accompany the deployment. One change calls for Israel, upon cessation of hostilities, to hand over the territory it holds to U.N. troops already deployed in the south and then pull out. Within 72 hours, the U.N. force would transfer control to the Lebanese army.

U.S., European and Arab envoys also said yesterday that Lebanon's concerns have to be factored in because the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, although not a direct party to the fighting, is pivotal to an eventual peace. The U.S.-backed formula relies on Lebanon to persuade Hezbollah to disarm, give up its arsenal and prevent it from rearming. Siniora has argued that he needs some concessions to win Hezbollah's agreement.

article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/05/AR2006080500533_pf.html


Rice sees an 'opportunity' for a 'New Middle East' in the Lebanon crisis (8-7-2006)

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1. Arab delegation heads to UN

Tuesday August 08, 2006 07:07 - (SA)

BEIRUT - An Arab League delegation is due to travel to New York to try to modify a United Nations (UN) draft resolution aiming to end Israel's war on Hezbollah, a Lebanese official said.

"Arab League chief Amr Mussa and Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, whose country sits on the UN Security Council, will head to the UN headquarters in New York," he said.

They were accompanied by Abdallah bin Zayed, the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates which currently chairs the Arab League council of foreign ministers.

http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/zones/sundaytimesNEW/basket7st/basket7st1155011346.aspx

[magellan]

2. It will be interesting to see what the result is

But sadly I don't believe common sense and compromise are on the US/Israel agenda.

K&R.

[mmonk]

3. I want an immediate ceasfire

because the killing needs to stop. There is already way too many refugees for the region to handle. That being said, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand nothing will work for any length of given time as long as Israeli forces are in Lebanon.

[EFerrari]

4. So, thousands of people are protesting all over the ME

and chanting "We are Hezzbollah" and the Arab League is moving to support Lebanon or at least, to appear to be doing that.

Where is this going? And why was this attack on Lebanon a good idea? I feel a lot of nostalgia for the days when people thought sitting in chairs and looking at each other and talking was a good idea. :(