Israel says to call off offensive if goals at UN met

[uppityperson]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-08-11T172228Z_01_L1118927121_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST-ISRAEL.xml&WTmodLoc=Home-C1-TopStories-newsOne-1

Israel said on Friday it would call off its expanded ground offensive in Lebanon if a U.N. resolution meets the government's goals.

"If in a couple of hours such a resolution, which really is going to meet the goals as was spelled out by the Israeli cabinet, the operation will be stopped," Gideon Meir, a senior Foreign Ministry official, told reporters. "We hope the diplomacy will prevail."

Meir said he would not discuss Israel's concerns about the existing resolution, but said negotiations were ongoing. "We are working on two tracks," he said.

Meir said Israel did not announce its decision to expand the ground offensive in order to ratchet up pressure on the U.N., calling that "a ridiculous" suggestion.

Could comment but won't.

[Lerkfish]

1. so...lemme get this straight: Israel is holding Lebanon hostage until

the UN gives in to their demands?

have I got that right?

[OregonBlue]

2. Methinks they doth protest too much!

[uppityperson]

3. That is my reading of it also.

[Drum]

4. A man walks into a bookstore...

he goes up to the counter and says "I want a book on "chutzpah" and I want you to pay for it."
-----------
I was trying to hold off commenting on Israel, but this shit is the last straw.

I guess the US really IS exporting its "Barrel of a gun" style of democracy

:cry:

[uppityperson]

5. update "expand in case diplomacy fails"

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-08-11T174505Z_01_L07726695_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST.xml

World powers said on Friday a deal on a U.N. resolution to end Israel's war with Hizbollah guerrillas was in sight, but Israel ordered its month-old offensive to be expanded in case diplomacy fails.

Israeli tanks forces were preparing for orders to sweep into Lebanon after the wider offensive was approved, Israeli TV said.

"This decision does not exclude a diplomatic solution. On the contrary, Israel is following closely what is going on at the Security Council. But so far diplomacy has failed to produce concrete results," an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said. Another foreign ministry official said the wider offensive would be called off is Israel was happy with a resolution.

Israel's view of progress with diplomacy was at odds with statements from other powers, including its ally Washington....(more)

Yup, this will surely help the diplomatic effort.

[Lerkfish]

7. "So far diplomacy has failed to produce concrete results"?

Did I miss the diplomacy?
I thought Israel just decided to annex Palestine and Lebanon. I don't recall them using any diplomatic channels until forced to by outside pressure, and they weren't sincere about it at any point.

[uppityperson]

8. No one wants to go to war. Except those who do.

"diplomacy" indeed. pshaw.

[Burried News]

6. No, the last straw will be when we pay the bill for all the Peacekeepers

What am I kidding myself for ... there will never be a last straw, they are addicted to war.

[Fozzledick]

9. A man is on trial for murdering his parents

He appeals to the jury for sympathy because he's an orphan.

-----------------

The message is plain enogh:

If you want peace, we're ready whenever you are.

If you don't want peace, we're ready for that too.