Some 160 Katyusha rockets of varying types were fired into Israel on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of 15 soldiers and civilians, and leaving over 225 people injured, some in serious condition.
Olmert met with his most senior advisors and military and intelligence community personnel, as the United Nation and international community talk about imposing a ceasefire in the region as early as tomorrow (Tuesday).
Israel Air Force craft bombed targets near Tyre, closing off access routes between the Mediterranea Coast cities of Tyre and Sidon in Lebanon. Hizbullah reacted with additional Katyusha barrages on Israeli towns, wounding at least three people.
Arab foreign ministers flew into Beirut on special flights from Jordan and Egypt, Reuters reported, for an emergency Arab League meeting to discuss the crisis. Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora literally wept as he described the attack upon his country.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, former Mossad Intelligence Agency Director Ephraim Halevy explained that a ceasefire imposed upon Israel and/or an agreement signed with Lebanon will not have lasting legitimacy. He said that a ceasefire and/or agreement must be made with the players, namely Hizbullah and Syria.
Former senior security establishment official, MK (Labor) Danny Yatom told Israel Television on Sunday that even if Israeli forces continue advancing towards the Litani, an agreement can only be reached via diplomatic intervention. "It does not matter if the IDF advances tens of kilometers," Yatom said, "Hizbullah missiles can still strike Israeli communities."
“I would also like to bring Hizbullah to its knees,” stated Yatom, but said that at present, this is not possible. He explained that the terror organization, which has been permitted to arm itself, during recent years is a formidable enemy.
In New York, UN Security Council officials are preparing for a vote on a draft ceasefire agreement. Lebanon has officially rejected the plan, which was based on a compromise worked out between France and the United States. The proposal demands that Hizbullah halt its rocket attacks on Israel, and allows Israel to attack only in response to Hizbullah ceasefire violations.
Right-wing opposition lawmakers do not trust a UN-orchestrated deal, calling on the prime minister and IDF to move deeper into Lebanon to destroy Hizbullah’s infrastructure.
Likud MK Dr. Yuval Shteinitz stated that a deal at this time would be tantamount to the UN recognizing Hizbullah’s right to arm and maintain a missile cache that can be turned against Israel at any time. Shteinitz, a former chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, insists Hizbullah must be considerably weakened before there can be any talk of a ceasefire.
Olmert met on Sunday night with Defense Minister Amir Peretz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz.
Olmert met with his most senior advisors and military and intelligence community personnel, as the United Nation and international community talk about imposing a ceasefire in the region as early as tomorrow (Tuesday).
Israel Air Force craft bombed targets near Tyre, closing off access routes between the Mediterranea Coast cities of Tyre and Sidon in Lebanon. Hizbullah reacted with additional Katyusha barrages on Israeli towns, wounding at least three people.
Arab foreign ministers flew into Beirut on special flights from Jordan and Egypt, Reuters reported, for an emergency Arab League meeting to discuss the crisis. Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora literally wept as he described the attack upon his country.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, former Mossad Intelligence Agency Director Ephraim Halevy explained that a ceasefire imposed upon Israel and/or an agreement signed with Lebanon will not have lasting legitimacy. He said that a ceasefire and/or agreement must be made with the players, namely Hizbullah and Syria.
Former senior security establishment official, MK (Labor) Danny Yatom told Israel Television on Sunday that even if Israeli forces continue advancing towards the Litani, an agreement can only be reached via diplomatic intervention. "It does not matter if the IDF advances tens of kilometers," Yatom said, "Hizbullah missiles can still strike Israeli communities."
“I would also like to bring Hizbullah to its knees,” stated Yatom, but said that at present, this is not possible. He explained that the terror organization, which has been permitted to arm itself, during recent years is a formidable enemy.
In New York, UN Security Council officials are preparing for a vote on a draft ceasefire agreement. Lebanon has officially rejected the plan, which was based on a compromise worked out between France and the United States. The proposal demands that Hizbullah halt its rocket attacks on Israel, and allows Israel to attack only in response to Hizbullah ceasefire violations.
Right-wing opposition lawmakers do not trust a UN-orchestrated deal, calling on the prime minister and IDF to move deeper into Lebanon to destroy Hizbullah’s infrastructure.
Likud MK Dr. Yuval Shteinitz stated that a deal at this time would be tantamount to the UN recognizing Hizbullah’s right to arm and maintain a missile cache that can be turned against Israel at any time. Shteinitz, a former chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, insists Hizbullah must be considerably weakened before there can be any talk of a ceasefire.
Olmert met on Sunday night with Defense Minister Amir Peretz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz.