Israel says world backs offensive

BBC News:
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Israel says Wednesday's decision by key world powers not to call for a halt to its Lebanon offensive has given it the green light to continue.

Justice Minister Haim Ramon made the remarks before Israeli cabinet ministers decided not to launch a large-scale ground offensive.

But the security cabinet decided to call up more reserves.

Israeli bombardment of Lebanon has continued throughout the day, with air strikes in many parts of the country.

A Lebanese army base and a radio relay station north of Beirut have been hit.

Clashes are also continuing in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops struggle to gain control of the Hezbollah stronghold of Bint Jbeil, where they have suffered their worst losses.

Hezbollah has kept up its barrage of rocket attacks inside Israel - the latest hit a chemicals factory near the border town of Kiryat Shmona. There are no reports of casualties.

At least 423 Lebanese and 51 Israelis have died in the violence since Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid on 12 July.

In other developments:

• Following the deaths of four UN observers in an Israeli air strike, Australia has withdrawn 12 UN peacekeepers, describing the prospect of sending an international force to Lebanon right now as a "suicide mission"

• A poll of Israelis published by Israel's Maariv daily newspaper suggests 82% back the continuing offensive and 95% say Israel's action is justified.

Foreign ministers from key countries - including the US, Britain and regional powers - attended emergency talks on the crisis in Rome on Wednesday.

They did not call for an immediate ceasefire, vowing instead to work with the "utmost urgency" for a sustainable truce.

"We received yesterday at the Rome conference permission from the world... to continue the operation," Israeli Justice Minister Haim Ramon said.
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And he is right - that is exactly what the world leaders have done - they have given Israel the 'permission' to continue. So now, they are all culpable for every life lost -be it in Israel or Palestine or Lebanon, most especially Lebanon.

No victory for the just, or the right or the innocents - just for those who make and use weapons to kill innocents! Hail Hitler! Hail Stalin! Hail Bush! Hail Israel!