Lebanon’s UN ambassador urges instant ceasefire, Israel’s envoy says attacks to continue

Lebanon’s U.N. ambassador is calling for an immediate cease-fire, but Israel’s envoy says its military operation will continue until Hezbollah’s control of the south is dismantled and it can’t attack Israelis across the border.

Lebanon’s U.N. Ambassador Hadi Hashem told an emergency meeting of the Security Council called by France that Israel’s bombings and invasion won’t provide security, safety and stability for its people.

“Israel cannot return the displaced to their homes without an agreement,” he said.

Hashem said Lebanon is fully committed to the French-American initiative for a 21-day cease-fire “during which we can settle outstanding border issues.” He accused Israel of agreeing to the initiative “before reneging on it and escalating its aggression.”

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told the council Israeli soldiers in the field “will degrade Hezbollah’s capabilities, remove their ability to launch attacks against our people, diminish the terror network that stretches across the south of Lebanon.”

Danon stressed there is only one path to peace in Israel and Lebanon: It must be without Hezbollah, and the 2006 council resolution that ended the last Israel-Hezbollah war must be fully implemented. Its key provisions call for disarming all armed groups including Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army’s deployment and control of the entire south.