The French on their Knees with Olmert-the-Sheep

* Hizbullah fires rockets at the retreating Israeli paratroopers, missed, but Israel did not respond.



* UNIFIL chief says he can only "beg" sides not to shoot.

UNIFIL's helplessness was confirmed by its chief, Maj.-Gen. Alain Pellegrini of France, speaking on BBC last night. Asked what action UNIFIL takes if it sees a ceasefire violation, Pellegrini said, "I try first to make them stop - I call both parties... and I explain to them the situation and I beg them to cease their fire; I am not strong enough to enforce any cessation of confrontation in the field."

Is this world-class pathetic, or is this some Kafka-esque nightmare? Who will change Pellegrini's diapers? What if he loses his security blanket? Will he beg on his knees, like a proper supplicant?


* Beirut: because of Hizbullah leader Nasrallah's refusal to disarm - in violation if the ceasefire agreement - the Lebanese Army may not be able to deploy in the south.

* The return of captives Gilad Shalit (kidnapped by Hamas operatives in Gaza) and Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser (kidnapped by Hizbullah terrorists on the northern border with Lebanon) is not mandated in the text of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, the ceasefire agreement between Hizbullah and Israel.



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If it weren't that the French/UN pack of clowns was endangering the lives of both Israeli and Lebanese civilians, this stance of utter moral turpetude would be funny. It is sick, sickening, and leaves me in utter shock how anyone -- from George Bush to Olmert/Perez -- could hope that the UN "farces" will have any mollifying effect on the Hizbullah.

I for one am glad the Lebanese citizens have a moment to breathe. They had a lovely country, and between them and us (in theory), we could have brought up the entire Middle East.

But I am forced to recall Brigitte Gabriel (American of Lebanese Maronite descent) as she thanked Israel for their sacrifice (Op-Ed article here, Arutz-7 interview here, CNN Interview here, responses from enthusiastic ex-pat Lebanese here) -- and how Olmert-sheep has slapped her in the face.

The Hizbullah is already violating the "Cease Fire" by not disarming. The IDF, for all of the gain of a useless high moral position, is incredibly not returning fire.

This was not why Israel went into Lebanon a month ago. This was not why Israel sacrificed 154 murdered, 115 of its finest youth, and 39 civilians that perished under Hezollah rocket attack? This was not what the sheep of a Prime Minister promised. Recall his glowing words in his bleat -- no, address to the Iraeli Knesset on 17 July 2006?

It is a regional - as well as global - interest to take control and terminate their [Hizbullah's] activity.

We intend to do this. We will continue to operate in full force until we achieve this. On the Palestinian front, we will conduct a tireless battle until terror ceases, Gilad Shalit is returned home safely and the shooting of Qassam missiles stops.

And in Lebanon, we will insist on compliance with the terms stipulated long ago by the international community, as unequivocally expressed only yesterday in the resolution of the 8 leading countries of the world:

- The return of the hostages, Ehud (Udi) Goldwasser and Eldad Regev;

- A complete cease fire;

- Deployment of the Lebanese army in all of Southern Lebanon;

- Expulsion of Hizbullah from the area, and fulfillment of United Nations Resolution 1559.

We will not suspend our actions.

This isn't mere glad-handling by a politician. These are bald-faced lies. Olmert-the-sheep never intended to do "this." We ceased operations long before we achieved "this." The Cease Fire is even worse than resolution 1559, for Olmert-sheep has ceded territory (Shaaba farm). No hostage has been returned; no provision has been made for providing that they will be. There is a HLAF cease-fire -- Israel ceased, they're firing. The Lebanese army cannot deploy, so long as Hizbullah does not disarm.

And, rather than having expelled Hizbullah, they are moving back into southern Lebanon in even greater strength and concentration.


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Original Artutz-7 Article here

IDF BEGINS WITHDRAWAL FROM LEBANON; HIZBULLAH REFUSES TO DISARM
By Hillel Fendel

Paratrooper brigade reservists began returning to Israel this morning. Hizbullah fired rockets at them, but missed; Israel did not respond. UNIFIL chief says he can only "beg" sides not to shoot.

The trek home along dusty roads and brush in southern Lebanon began a short while after midnight. Around the same time, other Israeli forces began reducing their presence and taking up positions overlooking villages used by Hizbullah.

One unit brought with it, on a stretcher, the body of the only female IDF casualty in Lebanon - 26-year-old Keren Tendler of Rehovot, a flight mechanic who was one of five soldiers killed when Hizbullah downed an Israel Air Force helicopter on Saturday night. Her body was recovered only late last night, in an emotional mission, because of heavy fire rained on the area by Hizbullah.

The Lebanese Army says it will begin deploying its forces in the south of the country in the coming days. Israel fears, however - and this is confirmed by Lebanese officials' statements - that Hizbullah terrorists will try to both return to the villages as early as today, and to integrate into the Lebanese Army. It has been said in Beirut that because of Hizbullah leader Nasrallah's refusal to disarm - in violation of the ceasefire agreement - the Lebanese Army may not be able to deploy in the south. The two Hizbullah ministers in the Lebanese Government also said that the terrorist organization would not disarm.

The London-based Al Hayat newspaper reports that a "compromise" agreement being worked on in Lebanon would allow the terrorists to keep weapons - but only in a concealed manner.

Given Hizbullah's refusal to abide by the disarming clause, as well as "the previous poor performance of UNIFIL, it is difficult to envisage a situation in which international peacekeepers would act vigorously to force the disarmament of Hizbullah south of the Litani." This understatement sum-up was penned by commentator Dominic Moran for the Zurich-based ISN (International Relations and Security Network) Security Watch.


UNIFIL Can Only Beg

UNIFIL's helplessness was confirmed by its chief, Maj.-Gen. Alain Pellegrini of France, speaking on BBC last night. Asked what action UNIFIL takes if it sees a ceasefire violation, Pellegrini said, "I try first to make them stop - I call both parties... and I explain to them the situation and I beg them to cease their fire; I am not strong enough to enforce any cessation of confrontation in the field."

Pellegrini, a former French military attache in Beirut who headed the Middle East Division of French military intelligence, said it is "urgent" that the international forces come to support the Lebanese army and reinforce UNIFIL.

As of Tuesday, 118 Israeli soldiers and civilians remained in northern hospitals with wartime wounds. Of them 32 are in serious condition. In Rambam Hospital in Haifa alone, 26 are in serious condition. The hospital absorbed nearly 800 patients throughout the month of fighting.

IDF Northern District Commander Brig.-Gen. Alon Friedman estimates that the reserve soldiers who were called up at the beginning of the warfare will be released in the coming days.

Thousands of northern residents are beginning to stream home. They will be treated to free flights and bus rides home from today until Friday, at government expense. In addition, the Israel Construction Center is offering free expert advise in construction and finance to all those whose homes were damaged by Katyusha rockets.