Lebanese Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora
Photo: AP
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
Photo: Reuters
Lebanon rejects US-French draft UN resolution
Lebanese Parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri says Lebanon rejects US-French draft resolution; Israel satisfied with draft
Lebanon on Sunday rejected a US-French draft resolution, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said during a press conference in Beirut.
The draft Berri said, who stressed he is speaking "in the name of all Lebanese," was rejected because it is not really a ceasefire and because the Shebaa Farms were not mentioned implicitly.
A Hizbullah minister said Saturday that his group would reject the bill.
In Jerusalem officials tried to hide their excitement over what was welcomed as a positive resolution, citing that its implementation could still take some time.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the government on Sunday that a ministerial committee has been set up for the subject, and includes representatives from the Foreign Ministry, the Prime Minister's Office, the Mossad and more, will hold contacts with the international community.
Olmert stresses that at the time being it is only a draft, which has not been put for a vote yet. Things can go on for a day, two, and maybe more. There is more uncertainty than certainty.
"My position – and I consulted ministers on the issue – is that there is no reason for Israel to respond to the draft. The less we respond the more wise our attitude," Olmert said.
Roee Nahmias contributed to this report
