Israeli airstrikes kill 20, destroy homes
(AP)
Updated: 2006-07-30 15:22
Still, Rice said she was encouraged by a tentative Hezbollah commitment to
allow international troops into southern Lebanon and eventually disarm. She met
with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem Saturday evening, and was
expected to stop in Lebanon though no visit was announced.
She said compromises will be needed from everyone.
"These are really hard and emotional decisions for both sides, under extreme
pressure in a difficult set of circumstances," Rice said. "And so I expect the
discussions to be difficult but there will have to be give-and-take."
Israel Radio reported Rice plans to travel to the United Nations on Tuesday
and hopes the Security Council can prepare a resolution calling for a cease-fire
on Wednesday. The report said Israel would not agree to stand down until
Hezbollah was incapable of resuming rocket fire Israel.
France circulated a draft Security Council resolution on Saturday among the
other 14 council members. It would call for an immediate halt to fighting
between Israel and Hezbollah and seek a wide new buffer zone in south Lebanon
monitored by international forces and the Lebanese army.
The question of Hezbollah's sincerity toward negotiations is crucial to
Rice's second attempt to broker a cease-fire. The United States and Israel
insist any deal must ensure Hezbollah guerrillas are pushed back from Israel's
northern border before fighting can stop.
Nasrallah said he would cooperate with the Lebanese government in
negotiations toward ending the crisis. But he was vague about how far he would
go, and suggested that disarmament would be off the table if conditions outlined
by Lebanon are not met - including the resolution of a border dispute with
Israel.
The bearded Shiite Muslim cleric, wearing his trademark black turban, gave
his latest televised address a day after Hezbollah fired its deepest strike in
to Israel yet, hitting outside the town of Afula.
"No matter how long the war lasts, whatever sacrifices it takes, we are
ready. We will not be broken or defeated," he said.
"Many cities in the center (of Israel) will be targeted
... if the savage aggression continues on our country, people and villages."
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