No call for immediate ceasefire in new UN resolution
The US and France agreed today on a draft UN Security Council resolution that calls for an end to the fighting between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas.
The deal, however, would allow Israel to defend itself if attacked, officials said.
US Ambassador John Bolton and French president Jacques Chirac’s office confirmed that agreement had been reached.
The full 15-nation Security Council was expected to meet tonight to discuss the resolution, and it was likely to be adopted in the next couple of days, Bolton said.
An official said the draft calls for a “full cessation of violence” between Israel and Hezbollah, but would allow Israel the right to launch strikes if Hezbollah attacks it.
“It does not say immediate cessation of violence,” the official said.
That appeared to be a major victory for the US and Israel. France and many other nations had demanded an immediate halt to the fighting without conditions as a way to push the region back towards stability.
The French presidential palace in Paris said a deal was reached on a resolution that seeks a total halt to hostilities and would work toward a permanent cease-fire and a long-term solution.
Bolton said the resolution would be the first of two. He said this one deals with the immediate issue of the fighting. The second would be likely to spell out a larger political framework for peace between Israel and Hezbollah.
“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,” Bolton said.
“We’re prepared to move as quickly as other members of the council want to move.”
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