the closer sides move toward cease-fire, the more they escalate violence

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Escalation before the end

By Haaretz Editorial

The diplomatic efforts to gain a cease-fire in the confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah have been stepped up in recent days. During the coming week it appears an accepted formulation of a Security Council resolution will be reached, bringing the hostilities to an end and creating a mechanism for the prevention of future conflagrations. As is common in the Middle East, the closer the sides move toward a cease-fire, the more they escalate their operations in order to improve their position before the situation is frozen.

An example of this escalation, in terms of the realization of Hassan Nasrallah's threats, came this weekend with the firing of missiles at Hadera and its environs.

Israel's escalation is expressed in renewed bombing of Beirut and in strikes against missile supply routes from Syria into Lebanon. On the other hand there has still not been a broadening of ground operations in southern Lebanon. There are advantages in discussing such plans, as a means of pressure, but it seems the approach most commonly identified with Chief of Staff Dan Halutz - which diminishes the importance of occupying territory beyond that already taken by IDF forces south of the Litani River - has been justified.

Katyusha rockets will continue to be launched from positions north of the Litani but it is more important to stabilize the line and secure the area occupied, in view of diplomatic bargaining that will result in handing the territory over to a responsible party - be it foreign or Lebanese.

The balance of power at this stage of the campaign appears to reflect Hezbollah's success in holding on . . .

article: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/746701.html

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1. Israel carries out heaviest yet bombardment of Lebanon

BEIRUT: Israel on Saturday launched its heaviest bombardment of the nearly month-long conflict in southern Lebanon, carrying out 250 air raids and firing 4,000 shells, and its naval commandos attacked targets near the port city of Tyre to prevent rocket launches by Hizbollah. The seven-hour bombardment began at dawn and Lebanese officials said it targeted 15 villages located 5 km from the border.

Israeli commandos raided an apartment building in Tyre, battling Hizbollah guerrillas. The fighting across the country killed at least eight Lebanese and an Israeli soldier.

Fighting may intensify

Given the determination of both Hizbollah and Israel to look victorious when the conflict finally ends, the worst of the fighting may still lie ahead with the guerilla fighters perhaps making good on its threat to rocket the main Israeli metropolis of Tel Aviv and Israel launching an all-out ground offensive, pushing northward to the Litani river about 30 km from the border.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/06/stories/2006080604971400.htm

[Karenina]

2. Let's see if the IAF

bombs Sidon...

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3. 250,000 in Sidon per MSNBC

Tens of thousands of refugees

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1826299&mesg_id=1826299