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THE following are initial reactions to the French-US draft resolution on Lebanon:
ISRAELI TOURISM MINISTER ISAAC HERZOG
“We have the coming days for lots of military moves. But we have to realise the timetable is getting shorter.”
LEBANESE MINISTER MOHAMMED FNEISH, A HEZBOLLAH MEMBER
“Israel is the aggressor. When the Israeli aggression stops, Hezbollah simply will cease fire on the condition that no Israeli soldier remains inside Lebanese land.”
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR
“This is a first step. There is still much to be done. But there is no reason why this resolution should not be adopted now and we have the cessation of hostilities literally within the next couple of days.”
TAREQ MITRI, HEAD OF LEBANESE DELEGATION TO UNITED NATIONS
“Our position ... over the draft resolution is linked to its harmony with our seven points and our insistence on an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire.”
“We called for a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire at the same time as the announcement of the seven points we proposed.
“Our seven points are clear with regard to the Sheba Farms, the detainees, the spread of the state’s authority...” he said by phone from New York to LBC television.
FRANCOIS GERE, HEAD OF FRENCH INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC ANALYSIS
“We have a first positive strong signal for a stabilisation of the situation, but I don’t expect the situation to stabilise in the coming week.”
“It prepares the ground for a ceasefire, nothing more than that.”
“I am a bit sceptical. I don’t see Hezbollah saying ‘We will stop our military actions’, but on the other hand ... they may have to deal with the reality.
“If they reach a cease fire within 48 hours, I would see the hand of Iran behind it, definitely.”
MIDDLE EAST EXPERT SHIBLEY TELHAMI OF THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION IN WASHINGTON:
“It’s definitely a move forward when you have France and the US agreeing on something; they’re key parties. But I think the problem right now is that the Security Council has lost control.”
“There’s going to be a huge gap between the content of this resolution and the military and psychological reality on the ground (which) will make it hard to implement.”
OUSAMA SAFA, HEAD OF THE LEBANESE CENTRE FOR POLICY STUDIES
“The big test is not the Lebanese government, it’s really Hezbollah.”
“Hezbollah will probably drag its feet because Hezbollah sees that its fortunes on the battlefield are on its side, so it will drag its feet and up the ante as much as possible to get a resolution that is acceptable on its own terms.” —Reuters
