BEIRUT, Lebanon, Aug. 20, 2006

Mideast Cease-Fire Fails Early Test

Shaky Truce Undermined By Israeli Demands And Lebanese Accusations

  • Play CBS Video Video The 'Jihad Reconstruction'

    Hezbollah has begun to rebuild the damaged and destroyed homes of Lebanese civilians in what the group calls "Jihad Reconstruction." Allen Pizzey reports from Beirut.

  • Video UN Peacekeepers In Lebanon

    Israel has begun handing over its positions in southern Lebanon to UN peacekeepers. The peacekeepers will link-up with Lebanese troops who are headed to the area. Alan Pizzey reports.

  • Video Lebanon Sends Troops To Border

    Lebanon has deployed its troops to the border as part of the U.N. cease-fire plan. However, Israel says the peace deal depends on the U.N. peacekeeping force. Manuel Gallegus reports.

    • A Lebanese soldier waves to an UNIFIL vehicle driving along the Lebanese-Israeli border August 20, 2006 in the town of Kafarkila.

      A Lebanese soldier waves to an UNIFIL vehicle driving along the Lebanese-Israeli border August 20, 2006 in the town of Kafarkila.  (AWAD/AFP/Getty)

    • Members of a Shiite Lebanese family pose in the rubble of their home destroyed by Israeli bombing in the southern village of Kfar Sir, Aug. 20, 2006.

      Members of a Shiite Lebanese family pose in the rubble of their home destroyed by Israeli bombing in the southern village of Kfar Sir, Aug. 20, 2006.  (AFP/Getty Images)

    • Lebanese soldiers stand guard on their armored vehicle in the port of Tyre, Aug. 19 2006.

      Lebanese soldiers stand guard on their armored vehicle in the port of Tyre, Aug. 19 2006.  (AFP/Getty Images)

    • Israeli soldiers unload their weapons as they stand along the international border with Lebanon moments after they crossed back into Israel, Aug. 19, 2006.

      Israeli soldiers unload their weapons as they stand along the international border with Lebanon moments after they crossed back into Israel, Aug. 19, 2006.  (AP)

    • Lebanese citizens stand next to a picture of Iran's late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in the Hezbollah stronghold of Baalbek, in the eastern Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, Friday, Aug. 18, 2006.

      Lebanese citizens stand next to a picture of Iran's late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in the Hezbollah stronghold of Baalbek, in the eastern Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, Friday, Aug. 18, 2006.  (AP)

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  • Photo Essay Fragile Cease-Fire

    Tens of thousands of Lebanese return home and some Israeli troops withdraw as tenuous cease-fire takes hold.

  • Photos Israel-Lebanon Bloodshed

    2006: Rocket attacks, missile strikes, incursions leave death and destruction in their wake.

  • Photo Essay Rockets Target Israel

    Hezbollah missiles rain down on cities and towns in northern Israel.

(CBS/AP)  The uneasy truce between Lebanon and Israel faced further erosion Sunday as leaders from both countries leveled threats and accusations a day after Israeli commandos raided Lebanon despite agreeing to a cease-fire agreement last week.

Lebanon's defense minister said he was certain Hezbollah would not break the cease-fire but warned rogue Palestinian groups of harsh measures and a traitor's fate if they incited Israeli retaliation by launching rockets into the Jewish state.

Also, Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, a Sunni Muslim, toured the devastated Hezbollah stronghold in Shiite south Beirut on Sunday and decried the destruction wrought by Israeli bombs as "crimes against humanity." Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Shiite and Hezbollah backer, stood at the prime minister's side and said they spoke with one voice.

In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he would name a panel to investigate government and military conduct of the conflict, in the face of criticism that authorities prosecuted a messy war with an unclear outcome and waffled over key decisions.

A day after Israel conducted a pre-dawn commando raid deep into the Bekaa Valley, prompting U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to declare the Israelis in violation of the Security Council cease-fire resolution, there were no reports of fresh incidents and the truce held into a seventh day.

Residents in the mountains east of Beirut, however, reported continued Israeli overflights. And the Lebanese army issued a statement accusing Israel of not abiding by the cease-fire because of the airspace violations, which were a prelude the Bekaa Valley commando raid.

Defense Minister Elias Murr's strong warning to rogue rocket teams indicated concern that Syrian-backed Palestinian militants might try to restart the fighting by drawing retaliation from Israel. He insisted Hezbollah would hold its fire.

"We consider that when the resistance (Hezbollah) is committed not to fire rockets, then any rocket that is fired from the Lebanese territory would be considered collaboration with Israel to provide a pretext (for Israel) to strike," he said.

In other developments:

  • About 30 members of Palestinian Journalists' Union gathered in Gaza City to protest the kidnappings of Fox News correspondent Steve Centanni and cameraman Olaf Wiig. The two were seized Monday near the Palestinian security services headquarters in Gaza City.

  • Israeli troops on Sunday detained a senior Hamas legislator, pushing forward with a crackdown on the Islamic militant group, Palestinian officials and relatives of the man said. Troops surrounded the home of Mahmoud al-Ramahi, secretary-general of the parliament, in broad daylight and detained him, said his sister, Yaqeen. Al-Ramahi had evaded arrest since Israel began its crackdown on Hamas officials following the June 25 abduction of an Israeli soldier by Hamas-linked militants in the Gaza Strip.

  • Forty-nine French peacekeepers came ashore Saturday at southern Lebanese coastal town of Naqoura, about 2 miles north of the border with Israel. About 200 more were expected next week. The French troops were the first contingent of what was to become a 15,000-strong international force to police the truce with an equal number of Lebanese soldiers. France already leads the U.N. force, known as UNIFIL, and had 200 soldiers in the country before today's fresh arrivals.

  • Israeli soldiers returning from the war in Lebanon are complaining they were hindered by short supplies, a lack of information, poor training and untested equipment.

  • The Lebanese army has deployed more than 1,500 troops in three sectors that Israeli forces have left, and the U.N. force — which currently numbers 2,000 — has set up checkpoints and started patrolling the areas.

  • Olmert has put his plans for a unilateral pullout from much of the West Bank on hold for now, but has not abandoned the idea altogether, a top Olmert aide said Friday, confirming a newspaper report. The Haaretz daily said Olmert told Cabinet ministers this week that in light of the Israel-Hezbollah war, the pullout was no longer his top priority.

    Continued



    ©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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    by zeta22-2009 August 21, 2006 8:51 AM EDT


    This discussion has got into little less than complete hogwash. I%u2019ll be out.
    But before leaving, I would like to just add an additional comment to what I previously said about this subject. And it is that now it has become clear why France, who has fought hard for a UN resolution together with the United States, offering since the very beginning to contribute with a substantial portion to the UN force and even to lead its operations, France, as I was saying, is now dragging its feet about the whole deal, and is even reluctant in committing many soldiers to such a UN force... Why? Because the UN resolution mandates that the international force is allowed ONLY to respond with force in self-defense, and NOT to make sure the terms of the UN resolution are actually implemented!!!... What a pitiful state of affairs... What a ridiculous disarray into which all the UN resolutions and actions (or lack of them!) have fallen...
    Just remember what I said in my previous comment: No nation trusts the UN anymore to solve any problem. They either CANNOT or WILL NOT take any serious action to discipline a few rascals around the world... Look at Iran: They are doing whatever they please with their so called %u201Cpeaceful%u201D nuclear program and sticking their middle finger towards the UN resolutions!
    What options does this leave to the World? Quite simply, nations who still can, need to take justice into their own hands. What a sad state of affairs!
    And so goes our world...
    Reply to this comment
    by kilghardwolf August 21, 2006 2:26 AM EDT
    i am 18 years old and i think that all the comments i have read on this one page make you all look like a bunch of children. You need to stop fighting like little girls and GET A LIFE!!!!
    Reply to this comment
    by ronniehm August 21, 2006 1:18 AM EDT
    Instead of relying on what you heard, you should research these names:

    Mohammad Amin al-Husayni

    Rashid Ali al-Kaylani

    Incidentally, I'm a devout atheist. Since you keep trying to impose a religion on my views, may as well clear that up.
    Reply to this comment
    by grazinggoat August 21, 2006 12:15 AM EDT
    Remind you Mr RonnieHM, that the ones who killed and burnt 6 millions jews, were not arabs, not moslems. Those who killed the 25 000 000 to 50,000,000 (READ WITH ME FIFTY MILLION) humans in Europe in the second world war were not moslems. You know who they were, and still are. But they were not moslems. So please don't **** the whole world off with your hatred and intolerence toward whoever doesn't eat Kosher or doesn't stand in salute in front of the US flag/ Star of David.

    By the way I'm not an Islamic expert, but I heard that Fundamental Islam is the naturel son of Fanatical Christianism and son of Fanatical Judaism. Seems that the Judaism is still closer to Isalm than Christianity. Some told me the five daily prayers in Islam and Judaism, the women in both religions who cover with scarves, the guys who get slicked when circumcised (Outch), the same Prophets and Kings, same books, no food but Halal or Kosher, no alcohol, no Pork... They say Islam is a softer version of Judaism. Is that true...? Because maybe they say Islam gave females the right of Ownership and the right to worship, whereas untill recently in the western hemisphere, they were still wondering if the female had a soul... the rest are details.
    Reply to this comment
    by grazinggoat August 21, 2006 12:14 AM EDT
    (...Continued)
    What has been forgotten in the successive revelations is the nature and the environment. It seems that GOD has kind of forgotten or did HE do it on purpose. HE forgot to tell about the natural selection as a way of improving the creation. Albert Einstein who said time is relative and for someone who is out of the time is eternal. Since GOD created the time, He who is Eternal, can SEE the future and present and the past at the same moment. So what we humans see as past-present and future are in fact the same moment for the Creator. He can see how one looks like when young, teen, adult, elderly and why not dead, and why not after death... the soul...

    Where in the holy books is said that The Creator has not chosen the natural selection His way of making humans good and better, more beautiful, more intelligent, (some more stubborn!).
    Peace on yall and on every creature on earth, amen

    Reply to this comment
    by reuben110-2009 August 20, 2006 6:54 PM EDT
    There is a lot of confusion about terrorism particularly in our country. As well as there being some very appropriate fears that the scum of the earth will try profusely to kill civillains, there are legitimate fears among the population of middle-eastern countries that in favt our troops will come and invade and kill their loved ones.

    No one talks about the IRA, or ETA, no one talks about the Israeli who killed Palestinian workers with a mindless gun rampage after the pullout of Gaza. Perhaps we should use him as an example. Perhaps people ought to recognize that he felt powerless, weak, and insufficient as his Government did not protect his interests, and the interests of his nation. It isnt wrong for middle-eastern muslims to feel the same way, a lot of them ought to feel that way. Al Qaeda is the scum of the earth in my opinion there is no lower being then those who are members or supporters.

    At the same time however to put Hizbollah into this category is nonsensical. Perhaps people ought to look at it from another perspective, if you were lebanese, and it was your loved ones and neighbours that were dieing, would you be moderate? would you back Israel? Not a chance and rightly so.

    People must realise,that all of a sudden if you are elected, it doesnt mean that if you bomb schools and hospitals and deny aid that you have moral high ground.

    But I will say something in favour of the Israelis, at least they rape less and don't run prisons like Abu-Ghuraib!
    Reply to this comment
    by ronniehm August 20, 2006 6:51 PM EDT
    I'm comfortable knowing that civility is one of my stronger traits. No matter how many times you call me stupid and ignorant, I'll have no contempt for you.
    Reply to this comment
    by reuben110-2009 August 20, 2006 5:41 PM EDT
    if intellect isnt one of your stronger traits..at least you can console yourself that honesty is..i think i have said enough now..take care
    Reply to this comment
    by reuben110-2009 August 20, 2006 5:38 PM EDT
    no i have contempt for stupidity...shame that that is all you could come up with...a measly 2 lines. your almost as pathetic as your views, though i dont want to embarass you further, before you get the impression that i am mad...which i very truly am not..let me re-iterate..i feel sorry for you..
    Reply to this comment
    by ronniehm August 20, 2006 5:28 PM EDT
    P.S. If by Islamophobe, you mean someone who's scared of Islam, then yes, I guess I'm one.
    Reply to this comment
    by ronniehm August 20, 2006 5:04 PM EDT
    Wow, you really have contempt for people who don't agree with you. It's hard to believe your attitude hasn't brought peace and harmony to the Muslim world yet.
    Reply to this comment
    by reuben110-2009 August 20, 2006 4:43 PM EDT
    cont...

    Then you go one step further, you really hit the epitomy of stupidy, i mean you really reach the summit. Most muslims hate non-muslims?? If i was to say most jews hate non-jews, you would scream anti-semitism at me.You are an islamophobe. Actually muslims have a population of 1.5 billion people worldwide, a very very small minority are terrorists, their religion condemns the killing of the innocent. Most of them, and this is the enlightening bit for you, so listen carefully, perhaps read over once more, to make sure this really hits home for you, most muslims love their families, work to earn for them and sincerely care for their well-being. You are either a radical jew, or anotther one of those ignorant folk who feel the outskirts of Nebraska need to be protected from terrorism. I truly feel sorry for people as ignorant as you going by some of the absurdities that have travelled from your brain to you fingertips and managed to pollute
    Reply to this comment
    by reuben110-2009 August 20, 2006 4:42 PM EDT
    I don't know why Ronnie is slating the UN, afterall if there is any nation that has made the UN a laughing stock it is Israel. Why are you talking about UN resolutions Ronnie, let me give you a fact, there is no nation on God's green earth that has failed to comply with UN resolution more than Israel, its just that the US has stood by to veto any chapter 7s. Why criticise the UN when Israel is the cheif non-compliant nation?

    What you said in your little message was interesting, you mentioned 2 warring parties, this is how most people viewed the war(equally). Hence anyone who stood by and watching the US deliver weapons, has every right to watch Hizbollah recieve weapons.

    Cont..
    Reply to this comment
    by grazinggoat August 20, 2006 3:15 PM EDT
    Please calm the game here. The UN is an assembly of the peoples of the Earth. The one and only we have and on which we all humans, goim or gentiles or whatever you want altogether with the animals, live and share. (By the way I don't digest this auto-labelling of being the best between humans and the rest are less than nothing. This leads to apartheid, and exclusions). The critics about what is written in this kind of writings (holy books) has been remedied to with the creation of the United Nations which gave rights to all humans on the same base. I here let you have a look at it.

    http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/043/88/IMG/NR004388.pdf?OpenElement

    It eliminates such pogroms in the name of difference, and it gives the right to all humans, (which are the CREATION OF THE CREATOR, pleases to some extreme semites or extreme Neo-Cons, or not...) because it grants the garantees to all with no distinction of religion, ***, color or minority origin. So there is something weird into auto-labelling best of the best... It's what Sigmund Freund called the Paranoia. Everybody wants to kill me and I'm a victim, so please help me. (please read continued...)
    Reply to this comment
    by grazinggoat August 20, 2006 3:14 PM EDT
    ...Continued,
    If humans came to a comprehensive undertanding of each's needs, then there is no war (Which has been done by writing the United Nations charter of rights. I consider this is a God Revelation, at the exception of not having the sacred stamp we find in the old Holy Books). If Prophets and old-time Kings were alive, they would like this kind of charters and they'd certainly rectify their old versions. They would qualify it of innovative and profitable to humans, so they'd stamp ((DEVINE)) on it... Proof to this is the relative growth stability of the total population of the earth. It increased from hardly two billion in the 1950's to the actual 6 billions + in less than two generations. That is quite an acheivement.

    I also include the link to the page of United Nations related to the protection of civilian persons in time of war.

    http://www.ohchr.org/english/law/civilianpersons.htm
    It's rather fantastic. Everybody should read it and stick to it. I'd rather say that it should apply to in time of peace into some countries that don't provide the minimum to their subjects.

    So peace on everybody, creatures of the God, now tomorrow and for ever... amen


    Reply to this comment
    by ronniehm August 20, 2006 2:17 PM EDT
    goat, unless your side is in compliance with every single UN resolution (or even just the last two), don't bother quoting the UN as an authority. I don't.
    Reply to this comment
    by ronniehm August 20, 2006 2:00 PM EDT
    reuben, the real truth is most Muslims hate non-Muslims. They have for centuries, so to analyze this conflict based on who did what last week is a little silly. As for the grand efforts of the almighty UN, they just make one resolution after another that does nothing but acknowledge the failure of the last resolution. This so-called cease fire between Israel and a government that has no control over what's happening in Lebanon was absurd. If the agreement isn't between the two warring parties, what's the point? Then, to guarantee its failure, the UN didn't even put one single soldier into Lebanon to assure compliance. They left Israel standing around to watch weapon shipments being delivered to a group that was supposedly disarmed from the previous resolution. Now I assume that the UN would have prevented arms from reaching Hezbollah if any of those 400 (sigh) French solders had bothered to show up. And I suspect France would have been in compliance with the cease fire for doing exactly what Israel did. Hypocrites.
    Reply to this comment
    by reuben110-2009 August 20, 2006 1:13 PM EDT
    Grazingoat leave them to their views,

    The truth is most jews I know, would go so far as to support Israel were it to launch a pre-emptive strike on Malawi, if there was a suspicion it harboured terrorists.That is the truth of the matter. They harbour the view that Israel is the holy land, so if it were to attack the White house, it would be justified. They fail to comprehend that just because a government is fighting, it is justified. How more nonsensical can you get. Soon it will dawn on people that a terrorism is the destruction and killing of innocent civillains and their infrastructure. Just because all of a sudden you are democratically elected, it doesnt give you license to do that.

    Arabs are victims of poor governance that fails to address their problems, that fail to stand up to monster states, and hence these people take matters into their own hands. They are seen as vigilantes.

    If you think this war was the correct decision read my preious two comments, id be interested in a response. Its strange, I am a jew, though im not religious what i stand for is a just and moral. When i do not see it i say it. People are probably going o brand me a supporter of terrorism now, and i say to them in advance:YOU ARE IN DENIAL
    Reply to this comment
    by grazinggoat August 20, 2006 12:57 PM EDT
    What a licking stand from you RonnieMH, CarlyLaine, Zeta22 and cheung. At first, the attack on Lebanon was never decided by the incompetent Israeli Administration, specially not the turtle face Olmert. It was pushed by the intransigent and incompetent bully monkeyface-GWB administration. Nothing to be proud of at all. Human history taught us the stubborn-aggressive standing never leads to successful survival. You all don't even want to consider arguments that Israel has inflicted to Lebanon and its population what the UNITED NATIONS, calls CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, and condemn it. Just cannot believe that you are defending a criminal state. And you want the Lebanese resistence to disarm and that CRIMINAL OF WAR to continue its abject acts upon Lebanese Civilian population. U are either Zionists or simply out of your mind. It's like U are willing to let the JonBenet suspect-killer, be in presence of another girl in one hotel room, alone. Imagine what would happen... With the Qana2 massacre done to civilians hiding in a shelter, still fresh in mind, you should at least say enough is enough. (see continued)
    Reply to this comment
    by grazinggoat August 20, 2006 12:56 PM EDT
    Continued
    Unless you don't care about the law of International Bodies such as Uited Nations, which seems to be the case, and then why The Lebanese Resistence would care to, since it has no value for Israel. So face to face and the belligerents fight again and see who wins. Zionists have just tasted the will and resolute of the lebanese resistence. They (zionists) are now stealing and abducting people belonging to Lebanese resistence in order to exchange them. That is agood sign of frightness and cowardise of the most powerful army in the middle east.
    Reply to this comment
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