US, France reach deal on Israel-Hizbullah resolution

Official with knowledge of document says draft calls for 'full cessation of violence' between Israel, Hizbullah, but would allow Israel right to launch strikes if it is attacked. Full 15-nation Security Council expected to meet later Saturday to discuss resolution, which is likely to be adopted in next couple of days, US Ambassador Bolton says

Associated Press|Published: 08.05.06 , 18:26

The United States and France agreed Saturday on a draft UN Security Council resolution that calls for an end to the fighting between Israel and the Lebanese terror group Hizbullah, but would allow Israel to defend itself if attacked, officials said.

US Ambassador John Bolton and French President Jacques Chirac's office confirmed that an agreement had been reached.

The full 15-nation Security Council was expected to meet later Saturday to discuss the resolution, and it was likely to be adopted in the next couple of days, Bolton said.

However, diplomatic sources in the UN expressed their doubts over the decision, saying that "nothing is closed until everything is closed."

According to the sources, there were still details in the resolution which had not been fully agreed upon. Although the diplomats were optimistic, they clarified that "the decision could fall on the smallest details, and in any case – even if there is a call to cease violence it is uncertain that it will in fact be stopped."

First resolution of two

An official with knowledge of the document said the draft calls for a "full cessation of violence" between Israel and Hizbullah, but would allow Israel the right to launch strikes if Hizbullah attacks it.

"It does not say immediate cessation of violence," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the draft had not yet been made public.

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 toward 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 ceasefire 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 likely spell out a larger political framework for peace between Israel and Hizbullah.

"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."