Peretz: 'Israel fighting war of free world against terror'
Representatives of defense establishment and top politicians convene Wednesday morning in to make decisive war decisions in regards to widening ground operation. Amir Peretz met earlier with German foreign minister saying: 'We are fighting was of free world against terror and expect international community to support our struggle'
Representatives of the defense establishment intend to a proposal on the table for an operation against Katyusha launchers in the entire area of southern Lebanon in which the main objective is locating and destroying Katyusha launchers.
Minister of Defense Amir Peretz intends to announce during the cabinet meeting that Israel will deal with the launchers herself. According to him, the government has no intention of foregoing Israel's right to provide defense for her citizens and that there will not be a political arrangement that will not ensure quiet and stability for years to come.
Peretz to Steinmeier: Israel won't give up right to defend herself (Photo: Ariel Hermoni)
Wednesday morning, before arriving at the cabinet meeting, Defense Minister Peretz met with the German Foreign Minister, Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The two examined, among other things, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's proposal to deploy 15 thousand soldiers from the Lebanese army in the south of the country in order to ensure quiet in the area. The German minister arrived in Israel after a visit in Lebanon, during which he met with Siniora himself.
Peretz said to Steinmeier: "We are fighting against the Iranian commando, which is armed with sophisticated, modern weaponry. This includes Russian-made anti-tank missiles, which in the past it was promised would not fall into the hands of Hizbullah. This weapon is used today against IDF soldiers in Lebanon."
"Even if Siniora has good intentions," the defense minister added, "Nasrallah has other intentions. Therefore, the international community must ensure that the political agreement will be valid, and not of the type that crumbles and evaporates after a short time."
Peretz warned Steinmeier of the possibility that Israel will again be faced with the threat of terrorism from Lebanon: "We are fighting the war of the free world against terror and we expect the international community to support this struggle. However, we intend to deal with the Katyusha launching pads on our own. This is my position as I will present it to the security cabinet convening Wednesday morning."
The concern: rise in casualties and increasing pressure on Israel
Representatives of the defense establishment will make a bid for the cabinet's approval for a widening of ground operations, but the Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign Ministry ask to carefully examine the proposal. This comes on the background of attempts made by members of the UN Security Council, lead by the US and France, to create the groundwork for a ceasefire in the area. The caution taken by the PMO stems from a fear that such a development will hasten the pressure on Israel to agree to a ceasefire, even on conditions that do not coincide with the objectives Israel has set for herself.
Another concern in the Prime Minister's Office is the definite possibility for a significant rise in IDF casualties. There is also concern that such an operation will encourage Hizbullah and their operatives in Tehran to use long-range missiles that can reach Dan Metropolitan. However, Prime Minister Olmert has already said in his speech to senior officials of the American Jewish community Monday that Israel will continue fighting in order to expel the rocket threat, even if it does incur a high price.
While the security cabinet meeting is in session, political processes continue. Israel is still examining the proposal of the Lebanese Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, to station 15,000 soldiers in southern Lebanon as basis for a ceasefire. The tendency in Jerusalem is not to accept Siniora's proposal at face value.
This is mainly due to the fact that he suggests that deploying his army in the south will result in an immediate ceasefire and evacuation of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory. Jerusalem is still insisting on "a multinational force with the capacity of enforceable affectivity in fire, alongside the Lebanese army, until the capabilities of the army to prevent rockets and direct threats on Israel will be proven."
