He said the United Nations Security Council ceasefire "will change from the core" the situation in southern Lebanon. Prime Minister Olmert said the resolution is "historic" because it makes Lebanon, and not Hizbullah, responsible for security in its country. After praising Israel's armed forces, firemen, police and rescue personnel, the Prime Minister said that the country's retaliation is a clear signal that Israel will not allow itself to be attacked.
"I believe that the realization of the UN resolution creates good conditions
for the return [of the two captive soldiers in Lebanon]," Olmert said, acknowledging that the it does not unequivocally demand their return. "The entire international community is committed to this," he said.
Olmert told the Knesset that Israel will win the war against terror with determination. "The struggle against terror did not begin today" and it will not be over immediately, the Prime Minister added.
Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik threw out three MKs from the left-wing Meretz and the Arab parties during the speech, for interrupting the Prime Minister.
Opposition Leader Binyamin Netanyahu (Likud) addressed the Knesset following the speech by the Prime Minster, and said that the war clearly puts an end to the concept of unilateral withdrawals.
Israel demolished more than 25 Jewish communities in the Gaza and northern Samarian regions last year and turned over the territory to the Palestinian Authority (PA) without a bilateral agreement. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has proposed further unilateral moves throughout Judea and Samaria.
The government needs unity but also needs a careful self-examination concerning the war against Hizbullah terrorists, said Netanyahu.
He criticized the Olmert administration for not declaring an emergency situation at the outset of the war. The former prime minister also attacked Prime Minister Olmert for not accomplishing the return of two kidnapped IDF soldiers and the disarming of Hizbullah.
Meanwhile, Hizbullah chief terrorist Hassan Nasrallah announced in a televised speech on Monday that his group is “on the brink of a great victory.”
"I believe that the realization of the UN resolution creates good conditions
for the return [of the two captive soldiers in Lebanon]," Olmert said, acknowledging that the it does not unequivocally demand their return. "The entire international community is committed to this," he said.
Olmert told the Knesset that Israel will win the war against terror with determination. "The struggle against terror did not begin today" and it will not be over immediately, the Prime Minister added.
Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik threw out three MKs from the left-wing Meretz and the Arab parties during the speech, for interrupting the Prime Minister.
Opposition Leader Binyamin Netanyahu (Likud) addressed the Knesset following the speech by the Prime Minster, and said that the war clearly puts an end to the concept of unilateral withdrawals.
Israel demolished more than 25 Jewish communities in the Gaza and northern Samarian regions last year and turned over the territory to the Palestinian Authority (PA) without a bilateral agreement. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has proposed further unilateral moves throughout Judea and Samaria.
The government needs unity but also needs a careful self-examination concerning the war against Hizbullah terrorists, said Netanyahu.
He criticized the Olmert administration for not declaring an emergency situation at the outset of the war. The former prime minister also attacked Prime Minister Olmert for not accomplishing the return of two kidnapped IDF soldiers and the disarming of Hizbullah.
Meanwhile, Hizbullah chief terrorist Hassan Nasrallah announced in a televised speech on Monday that his group is “on the brink of a great victory.”