CeaseFire
16 August, 2006
After giving a license to kill civilians, including women and children to Israel in Lebanon, the UN Security Council has approved and implemented a ceasefire to end the month-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Both the Lebanese and Israeli governments have ratified the UN resolution which urges a "full cessation of hostilities" against each other, and authorises 15,000 peacekeeping troops for the existing UN Interim Force in Lebanon.
But fighting on the ground is continuing, with Israeli planes pounding the civilian localities with impunity.
The key points of the ceasfire resolution are, Hezbollah must end attacks on Israel, Israel must end offensive military operations, 15,000 peacekeepers to enforce ceasefire, Lebanese troops to be deployed to south , Israel to withdraw troops as international force deployed
Israel has warned the civilians who had left their homes in southern Lebanon following the worst-ever and indiscriminate bombardment during last one month, not to come back to their homes until the Lebanese army takes control of the area replacing Hezbollah
Here are some questions
1) What are the likely next steps and the obstacles remaining to obtaining an end to the conflict?
2) Experts say the ceasfire is in favour of Israel as due to deployment of international force, Israeli cities will go out of the reach of Hezbollah missiles. What do you think?
3) Iran and Syria say that UN acts only when Israel looses, otherwise it plays a silent role on the killings of Muslims?
4) Is the latest conflict a political and psychological blow to Israel`s reputation of being "invincible"?
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