Israel says no to UN truce
The Foreign Minister Livni said there was no need for the 72-hour truce called for by the United Nations, given that there already is a humanitarian corridor. Tonight the US Secretary of State heads back to Olmert.
Tel Aviv (AsiaNews/Agencies) Israel "is ready to allow the opening of humanitarian corridors in Lebanon" but precisely because of this, "refuses the 72-hour truce proposed by the United Nations, which it does not see any need for". Meanwhile, during the night of the eighteenth day of the offensive, 51 Lebanese targets were struck in dozens of raids.
"There is no need for a temporary 72-hour truce because Israel has already opened a humanitarian corridor for and from Lebanon," said Avi Pazner, Israeli government spokesman. In an interview with Le Figaro, the Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tzipi Livni, confirmed the opening of corridors. "We accept because we are not at war with Lebanon, its government or its civil population: we are at war against Hezbollah."
In the meantime, the American Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, is expected to land in Israel tonight for talks with Olmert aimed at achieving peace. Tomorrow, the Italian Foreign Affairs Minister, Massimo d'Alema will also arrive in Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, President Bush reiterated his stand during a joint press conference with the British Premier Tony Blair. He said "our objective is lasting peace and we have already discussed a plan with our allies for this".
The President of the United States said "a multi-national force must be deployed" in Lebanon and he stressed that the solution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah would be possible by putting the government of Beirut in a position to control politically and militarily the south of Lebanon.
"Iran and Syria face a simple choice," added the British Premier Blair. "They can either participate as responsible members of the international community, or they will face the risk of increasing confrontation."
The situation of people displaced by the violence is increasingly dire. Yesterday around 8,000 Lebanese found refuge in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh, one of the country's largest, at the gates of Sidon city. There are 12 refugee camps in Lebanon where 367,000 Palestinian refugees live in conditions of deprivation.
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