The German foreign minister was first on a list of several who were scheduled to meet with government officials today as they work to open a political front alongside the current military operation.
“Due to the weakness of the Lebanese army, we support the deployment in south Lebanon of a multi-national force with broad authority,” said Peretz. The Defense Minister told reporters after the meeting that the force would be comprised of NATO soldiers.
Peretz told Steinmeier that Israel was willing to consider diplomatic options in an effort to end the Re-Engagement War. However, he said, military goals would not be sacrificed in the process.
“We are continuing military operations but also intend to create as broad a diplomatic operation as possible,” he said. “We definitely see a combination of the existing military activity and a complimentary international operation.
Peretz warned, however, that international politics would not stay Israel’s military hand before the terrorist threat from Hizbullah was eliminated. “The objectives that we set will be met,” he said bluntly.
French Foreign Minister Phillipe Douste-Blazy and British Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East Dr. Kim Howells were also both expected in Jerusalem later in the day.
Douste-Blazy met on Sunday morning with city officials in Haifa, just before air raid sirens again began their call to residents to enter shelters and safe rooms. Two people were killed and twelve more were injured in the attack, one critically. The French foreign minister had barely left the city before the Katyushas began to rain down.
Other foreign ministers and diplomats are expected to come to Jerusalem within the week to carry on talks aimed at finding a solution to the murderous rocket attacks into the north of Israel and the bloody counter-terrorism efforts in south Lebanon.
Government officials in Jerusalem are currently expected to maintain the stance that ending the Re-Engagement War will depend primarily on the Lebanese, as well as on others who support Hizbullah in its bid to destroy the Jewish state.
“Due to the weakness of the Lebanese army, we support the deployment in south Lebanon of a multi-national force with broad authority,” said Peretz. The Defense Minister told reporters after the meeting that the force would be comprised of NATO soldiers.
Peretz told Steinmeier that Israel was willing to consider diplomatic options in an effort to end the Re-Engagement War. However, he said, military goals would not be sacrificed in the process.
“We are continuing military operations but also intend to create as broad a diplomatic operation as possible,” he said. “We definitely see a combination of the existing military activity and a complimentary international operation.
Peretz warned, however, that international politics would not stay Israel’s military hand before the terrorist threat from Hizbullah was eliminated. “The objectives that we set will be met,” he said bluntly.
French Foreign Minister Phillipe Douste-Blazy and British Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East Dr. Kim Howells were also both expected in Jerusalem later in the day.
Douste-Blazy met on Sunday morning with city officials in Haifa, just before air raid sirens again began their call to residents to enter shelters and safe rooms. Two people were killed and twelve more were injured in the attack, one critically. The French foreign minister had barely left the city before the Katyushas began to rain down.
Other foreign ministers and diplomats are expected to come to Jerusalem within the week to carry on talks aimed at finding a solution to the murderous rocket attacks into the north of Israel and the bloody counter-terrorism efforts in south Lebanon.
Government officials in Jerusalem are currently expected to maintain the stance that ending the Re-Engagement War will depend primarily on the Lebanese, as well as on others who support Hizbullah in its bid to destroy the Jewish state.