Hizbullah remained adamant that no negotiations could take place until Israel unconditionally began a ceasefire. The U.S. initiative for a settlement announced by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was scorned by the group.
“It seems as though Rice is not satisfied with the killing of children…” said a Hizbullah statement.
A Hizbullah member of the Lebanese parliament, Hassan Fadlallah added in an interview with Arabic satellite news station al-Jazeera, that “Rice cannot decide for Lebanon what Lebanon must do, and won’t be able to impose a buffer zone or security area on Lebanon.”
Fadlallah said that negotiations on a settlement could not begin until Israel first carried out an unconditional ceasefire. “Rice is attempting to impose conditions that have already failed from the outset – the attempt to disarm Hizbullah and to push them back. We have not changed our basic stance, which asserts that first and foremost the aggression must be put to an end, only after which we may discuss all other clauses,” he said.
The Lebanese government was equally unwilling to reach a quick settlement. “We will not accept any offer before an immediate and complete ceasefire,” said Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Saloukh. “Rice is giving [Israeli Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert more time.”
Saloukh added that Rice had presented no new proposals. “She already presented them in discussions she held with us during her visit last week,” he said. “We are all committed to the decision of the Lebanese government to call for an immediate ceasefire, and that the Security Council must make a firm decision on the issue. From there, we may discuss all other issues,” he reiterated.
Lebanese President Emil Lahoud also rejected the possibility of deploying an international peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon. In an interview with the Arabic al-Jazeera satellite news station, the president stated he would only rely on a UN force. “It is preferable to increase the UNIFIL [United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, created in 1978 –ed.] force rather than deploying French or other soldiers,” Lahoud told al-Jazeera.
“It seems as though Rice is not satisfied with the killing of children…” said a Hizbullah statement.
A Hizbullah member of the Lebanese parliament, Hassan Fadlallah added in an interview with Arabic satellite news station al-Jazeera, that “Rice cannot decide for Lebanon what Lebanon must do, and won’t be able to impose a buffer zone or security area on Lebanon.”
Fadlallah said that negotiations on a settlement could not begin until Israel first carried out an unconditional ceasefire. “Rice is attempting to impose conditions that have already failed from the outset – the attempt to disarm Hizbullah and to push them back. We have not changed our basic stance, which asserts that first and foremost the aggression must be put to an end, only after which we may discuss all other clauses,” he said.
The Lebanese government was equally unwilling to reach a quick settlement. “We will not accept any offer before an immediate and complete ceasefire,” said Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Saloukh. “Rice is giving [Israeli Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert more time.”
Saloukh added that Rice had presented no new proposals. “She already presented them in discussions she held with us during her visit last week,” he said. “We are all committed to the decision of the Lebanese government to call for an immediate ceasefire, and that the Security Council must make a firm decision on the issue. From there, we may discuss all other issues,” he reiterated.
Lebanese President Emil Lahoud also rejected the possibility of deploying an international peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon. In an interview with the Arabic al-Jazeera satellite news station, the president stated he would only rely on a UN force. “It is preferable to increase the UNIFIL [United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, created in 1978 –ed.] force rather than deploying French or other soldiers,” Lahoud told al-Jazeera.