Peace deal at UN is clouded by Israeli ambiguity: Olmert appears to

[PA Democrat]

accept text hours after shocking security council by insisting on going ahead with Lebanon offensive

Julian Borger in Jerusalem, Oliver Burkeman in New York and Ewen MacAskill
Saturday August 12, 2006
The Guardian


Israel's cabinet will meet tomorrow to decide whether to accept the UN security council's ceasefire resolution, but until then the government made clear its troops would continue to advance into Lebanon.

In an apparent gambit to win time for the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) to make gains on the battlefield, the prime minister, Ehud Olmert, signalled last night that he would recommend acceptance of the peace plan, but would not act on it until tommorrow's meeting.

The delay seemed likely to cause anger on the world stage, and trigger a Hizbullah response that would make imposing a ceasefire even harder. But Israeli officials insisted that the move was justified as Hizbullah rockets continued to fall on northern Israeli towns yesterday.

Mr Olmert had ordered the launch of an all-out ground offensive only a few hours before the UN vote was taken, and massed Israeli tanks along the northern border were seen making final preparations to move into southern Lebanon, where they were intended, according to the IDF plan, to advance as much as 30km up to the Litani river.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1843127,00.html

[Tom Joad]

1. That is Olmert's way of saying Peace. Killing hundreds of more Lebanese

civilians.

[Tom Joad]

3. In contrast, Lebanese civilians and internationals are going to take m

matters into their own hands, and are pressing ahead to deliver food and supplies in defiance of the Israeli attack on everyone in Southern Lebanon. Please see here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1883374&mesg_id=1883374
Adn don't forget to recommend it.

[Briar]

10. Israel

has always acted on the assumption that killing Lebanese civilians is acceptable if it saves Israeli lives. And then they wonder why they are despised.

[mbperrin]

11. Pieces. He thought they said blow them to pieces. It's a piece deal.

Peace? OH my, that's very different, isn't it? NEVER MIND!

Thank you Ms. Flatella......

[Igel]

2. Olmert's a lousy tactician.

He decides to have the first day of the fight on the last day.

[Tom Joad]

4. First day of the fight? More like the 30th day. thousands dead from

olmerts war!

[Igel]

9. Yes, it is more like the

30th day.

But this tactic is, to my mind, what he should have done on the first day.

In other words, he saved the appropriate tactic for day 1 to the day (give or take 1 or 2) before the ceasefire.

Ass-backwards. He focused so much on preparing the battlefield that he overlooked how to conduct the battle.

[bemildred]

5. He is keeping his options open. nt

[Tom Joad]

6. Those he kills, the families torn apart, will lose all their options.

[ShockediSay]

7. One word says it all - abomination.

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. Here's another take on the story from Julian Borger

Wobbling Olmert dismays politicians, army and public

August 12, 2006
The Guardian

Israel's prime minister, Ehud Olmert, last night wobbled on a tightrope between war and peace, jostled by domestic public opinion dismayed at his strategic leadership in the conflict so far, and disappointed by the proposed UN peace deal.

In a few hours, Mr Olmert switched from apparent acceptance of a UN ceasefire resolution to ordering a full invasion in frustration at the resolution's shortcomings, and then to signalling his possible acceptance, although it was unclear if there were any broad changes in the document. The extraordinary manoeuvres seemed likely to reinforce his reputation of wavering at a time of war, on a day on when fresh polls suggested his performance as a war leader had significanly damaged his standing.

Mr Olmert's rivals, particularly on the right, were writing his political obituary, while the liberal Haaretz newspaper on its front page declared: "Olmert must go". Military officials had also leaked word of their unhappiness the prime minister had suspended their invasion plan to give the diplomats in New York a final chance.

The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) general staff see the ceasefire as a defeat, as in their eyes it leaves Hizbullah armed, at least initially, with the militia's reputation enhanced by withstanding Israeli might.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1842952,00.html


Nice to see Olmert is proving himself to be a major asshole.

[theanarch]

12. quite so...

...Olmert has placed himself between the proverbial rock and hard place: he instigates a war of choice on advice of self-serving generals, who cannot deliver the promised victory. To accept the UN deal on any terms less than what Olmert originally demanded is a tacit admission of defeat--and the signal to Likud to bring the Kadima gov't. down. Yet, the longer he continues the war, the more Hezbollah rockets get fired into Israel, and the more world opinion turns against Israel...so he dithers and stalls and flip-flops; spouting hysterical rhetoric, prays to god on the floor of his office with Pat Robertson, and continues killing more people in a desparate and futile effort to delay the enevidable. Indeed, the most pathetic and incompetent performance by a "war president/P.M" since...uh, Junior?

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. Is it true

that Olmert is a chickenhawk? I didn't think there was any such thing in Israel?

[theanarch]

14. yes, he...and his Defense Minister Peretz...are both

chickenhawks; somehow they managed to avoid serving in the IDF. I am given to understand that members of some super-Orthodox sects are exempt from military service as well, which, IIRC, has caused great resentment among more secular (and conscriptable) Jews, as these sects are the most right-wing and pro-war types.