Centerpoint Now @ United Nations July 23rd, 2006

US Amb. John Bolton posed the question and said last Wednesday that it is not the time to demand a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Also, the U.N. Security Council did not enforce fully yet the resolution passed last year that demands that the Lebanese government assert full control of its territory, meaning Hezbollah must be disarmed. US Secretary of State Rice said, “… if we look for a ceasefire that simply freezes the status quo ante, then we will be back here again in another six months, or nine months, or a year, looking for another ceasefire as Hezbollah uses southern Lebanon as a base to launch rockets against Israel.” Bolton summarized it right for everybody. How do you get a cease-fire with a terrorist organisation? And why?

Rice: “We do seek an end to the current violence and we seek it urgently. But if we look for a ceasefire that simply freezes the status quo ante, then we will be back here again in another six months, or nine months, or a year, looking for another ceasefire as Hezbollah uses southern Lebanon as a base to launch rockets against Israel.” France called for an “humanitarian truce” to alleviate the suffering of civilians as soon as possible, proposing a Security Council call for a ceasefire, while addressing the underlying causes of the conflict. Russia, Greece, Congo, Peru and Qatar endorsed the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Britain supports a “durable” ceasefire.

Annan calls for a six-point peace plan: an “enlarged peacekeeping force”, to help the Lebanese army move into the south and an international conference to disarm Hezbollah.

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