Jerusalem: A UN resolution calling for an end to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has exposed faultlines in Israel, with some politicians welcoming the move but the army saying it will pursue its offensive nonetheless.

The differing reactions in part reflect the military’s desire to register territorial and tactical successes against the Lebanese guerrilla group before the month-long campaign is formally brought to an end by a full ceasefire.

But they also reflect something of the indecisiveness which political commentators and the Israeli public say has shadowed the war and led to calls for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to go.

Israel’s top commander, Lieutenant General Dan Halutz, said on Saturday he intended to pursue his widening offensive, in which 85 soldiers have been killed, at least until it was clear how the UN resolution was going to be brought into force.

“The fact that a UN resolution was accepted on Saturday doesn’t apply immediately... We will continue to operate until we achieve our aims,” Halutz told a briefing.

His comments appeared in contrast to those of Shimon Peres, Israel’s deputy prime minister, who, while praising the role the military had played, seemed to suggest that its job was done and that diplomacy was now in the driving seat.

“Without the military pressure we would not have had the diplomatic deal, and without the diplomatic deal there would have been no point to the military action,” he told Israel radio.

Israel’s cabinet is expected to endorse the UN resolution at a meeting on Sunday. At least until then, it appears that the army has a green light to pursue its offensive.

The area from the border to the Litani would then effectively become the buffer zone from which Israeli forces would gradually have to withdraw as a 15,000-strong UN force, most likely led by France, steadily deploys.

UN Middle East envoy Alvaro de Soto told Reuters on Saturday the UN force could begin deploying in seven to 10 days, suggesting there is still some time before the “immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations”, as called for in the resolution, actually comes into force.

Even after that time, Israel could still carry out operations against Hezbollah if it felt threatened, and it could be several more weeks before a permanent ceasefire — rather than merely a cessation of hostilities — is brought into force.—Reuters