UNITED NATIONS, Aug 5: The UN Securitry Council on Saturday began consultations on a draft resolution agreed by the United States and France that calls for a “full cessation of hostilities” between Hezbollah and Israel.
The draft, released by the French mission to the UN “calls for a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in particular, the immediate cessation by Hezbollah of all attacks and the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations.”
That language in the resolution inserted on the American intervention is a major victory for Israel, which has insisted it must have the right to respond if Hezbollah launches missiles against it France and many other nations had demanded an immediate halt to violence without conditions as a way to push the region back toward stability.
The full 15-nation Security Council will meet late on Saturday afternoon, to discuss the draft. But diplomats here told Dawn that “no vote would be taken today.”
Since fighting began, the UN Security Council has failed to take any action to stop it, primarily because of opposition from the United States, Israel’s closest ally.
Any deal will have to gain the acceptance of both Israel and Hezbollah, which could prove difficult, diplomats and UN officials here said. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was at President George W. Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas, but will head back for a vote.
“She will be prepared to go to New York,” US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. A spokesman for British Mission said that UK’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs Margaret Meade may also travel to New York. US Ambassador John Bolton when asked as to when the resolution could be adopted said: “We’re prepared to continue to work tomorrow in order to make progress on the adoption of the resolution but we have reached agreement and we’re now ready to proceed,” adding “we’re prepared to move as quickly as other members of the council want to move.”
Rules on weapon purchases: The resolution asks that Israel and Lebanon agree to a set of principles to achieve a long-term peace. One crucial element is an arms embargo that would block any entity except the Lebanese government from buying weapons. That is presumably meant to block the sale of arms to Hezbollah from Iran and Syria, believed to be the militia’s main suppliers.
Other principles spelled out in the resolution include the disarmament of Hezbollah; the creation of a buffer zone from the UN-demarcated border between Israel and Lebanon north to the Litani River; and the delineation of Lebanon’s borders, especially in the disputed Chebaa Farms area.
The resolution would call for the current UN force in Lebanon, known by its acronym UNIFIL, to monitor the cessation in fighting. Once Israel and Lebanon have agreed to the series of principles, the Security Council would then authorise a new peacekeeping force for the region.
That force would “support the Lebanese armed forces and government in providing a secure environment and contribute to the implementation of a permanent cease-fire and a long-term solution.” That element was a victory for France. The US and Israel had earlier insisted that there would be no deal without the immediate deployment of a new force, separate from UNIFIL.
Israel says it wants to continue fighting to diminish Hezbollah’s military capability; Hezbollah’s spokesman said on Thursday the militia would not agree to a cease-fire until Israeli troops leave Lebanon.