Israel: If Hezbollah Does Not Disarm, We Do Not Leave

Defiantly, Israel has stated this for the United Nations and Hezbollah. The Jerusalem Post reports that Israel will continue the war if Hezbollah refuses to divest themselves of weapons:

(Hat-Tip: Captain Ed Morrissey)

The IDF will have to resume operations in Lebanon if the expanded United Nations force being assembled does not fulfill its obligation to dismantle Hizbullah, an official in the Prime Minister's Office warned on Tuesday.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah reportedly reached a deal allowing Hizbullah to keep its weapons but refrain from exhibiting them in public. Israeli officials called the arrangement a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which passed over the weekend and was approved on Sunday by the cabinet.

"The resolution is clear that Hizbullah needs to be removed from the border area, embargoed and dismantled," the official said. "If the resolution is not implemented, we will have to take action to prevent the rearming of Hizbullah. I don't think backtracking will serve any useful purpose. There has to be pressure on Hizbullah to disarm or there will have to be another round."

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is expected to raise the issue when she meets in New York on Wednesday with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Annan angered Israeli officials when he told Channel 2 on Tuesday that "dismantling Hizbullah is not the direct mandate of the UN," which could only help Lebanon disarm the organization. Annan upset officials further when he said that deploying international forces in Lebanon would take "weeks or months," and not days as expected.

Israeli officials said the IDF would not complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon until the international force was deployed - even if it took months - to prevent a vacuum in Lebanon that could endanger Israeli civilians. An official in the Prime Minister's Office accused Annan of having an anti-Israel agenda.

"He has been one-sided," the official said. "He tried to be even-handed in a situation that was clearly asymmetrical. When one side committed crimes against humanity and engaged in genocide and the other side defended itself, he cannot treat us in the same manner."

Annan rejected charges of bias, saying, "I have been very hard on Hizbullah and condemned Hizbullah for what it has done. I have condemned Israel for what I consider excessive use of force but it doesn't mean I am taking one side."

Livni will also meet with US diplomatic officials and Jewish leaders during her 24-hour visit. The goals of the trip include advancing Israel's interests in talks on implementing the cease-fire in Lebanon, expediting the deployment of an international force and bringing about the return of the kidnapped IDF soldiers.

Annan is set to make key decisions about the role of the multinational force. Livni had planned to visit New York over the weekend but her original trip was blocked by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Foreign Ministry Director-General Aharon Abramovich said implementation of the cease-fire was "good so far" and "going according to plan." He said Livni wanted to make sure that UNIFIL's effectiveness would be maximized.

If Ms. Livnieven begins to buy the the line that UNIFIL will raise so much as an eyebrow to stop Hezbollah, then the Knesset should make their move soon on a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Olmert and his cabinet. Either that, or inform the prime minister that he had better send word ahead to the troops that they are staying until further notice. Hezbollah has made it quite clear they are not disarming. the Lebanese government has stated that the Lebanese army will not enforce a disarming of Hezbollah. In other words, nothing has changed.

So, it is still go-time for Israel. Unfortunately for Israel proper, it is being run by a dove who has no clue as to how one conducts war wisely. His failure is nearly complete and many of his critics have been riding him hard over the last week or so. For Prime Minister Olmert, it is rightly--and richly--deserved. Nearly every Middle East expert that has spoken about this has said that Israel, despite having the provisions within the cease-fire that gives them all the trump cards, still lost. And we agree. Ehud Olmert stalled and stuttered his way through a month of fighting, and as Caroline Glick observed, "sued for a cease-fire." (Yes, we read this column, and Ms. Glick makes more sense than most when it comes to calling for Prime Minister Olmert's ouster.)

At best for the West, the United States can come out of this politically in a pretty good light. They stood behind, and still stand beside, Israel when it comes to them defending their homeland. But they also showed that they were serious about certain things in the conflict. Among our grievances was the constant interference from Syria and Iran. We knew they were sending munitions into Lebanon, despite the heavy bombing on roads and bridges to both countries, and the destruction of the runways at Beirut Airport. (Yes, only the runways were targeted in the bombing raids despite the spin the media is putting on that little fact.) A few convoys had been hit coming from Syria, resulting in secondary explosions, which means there were munitions--likely rockets--being smuggled over the border.

This is why the arms embargo stipulation is in the resolution. (Of course, if the United Nations really had any kishkas both Syria and Iran would be facing stern sanctions. But Kofi Annan's letter to both Israel and Lebanon showed that he was not willing to allow them to simply shoot at one another. And what if that happens. Let us say tomorrow we read about 300 rockets falling on Haifa. Kofi Annan does not want Israel to fire back. We all know that is a pipe dream. And when Israel does retaliate, will Kofi Annan respond with a harshly worded letter; omitting, of course, those very un-PC four-letter words?

See, Osama bin Laden got it wrong when he called America the "paper tiger." I think we have shown that under the right leadership, an attack on America will result in a response of overwhelming force. In reality the world's paper tiger is the United Nations. All bluster and fluster, and no backbone to speak of. And as long as Hezbollah stays armed, they remain a paper tiger; UNIFIL will not take up position in southern Lebanon until they and the Lebanese army are the only ones in the region that are armed. Hezbollah has stated plainly and bluntly that this will not be the case there. Nasrallah has stated that Hezbollah can keep their weapons as they as they stayed concealed. "So, Ahmed, is that a rocket in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"

Give me a break already. Hezbollah has no intention of abiding by the cease-fire. Lebanon will remain to be held hostage by Hezbollah. Israel and Hezbollah will be back at it again within fourteen days. I stand by that prediction. Israel is not leaving an armed Hezbollah alive and kicking in southern Lebanon. They will retaliate the first day that the rockets falling exceeds a certain amount. A dozen will not provoke Israel back into full action. IDF soldiers on the ground, with close air support, may be the retaliating force. But I would be willing to wager that the Knesset will move quickly to avoid a repeat of this fiasco. But if I were Hezbollah I would not get too comfortable in the south. Israel stays as long as Hezbollah and their weapons do.

Marcie