Israel halts bombing for 48 hours, people have 24 hours to get out of south Lebanon

AP/Houston Chronicle:

Israel agreed to a 48-hour suspension of aerial activity over southern Lebanon after its bombing of a Lebanese village today killed a number of children.

The attack marred Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's mission to halt the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

The suspension of over-flights was announced by State Department spokesman Adam Ereli. He said Israel has reserved the right to attack targets if it learns that attacks are being prepared against them.

"The United States welcomes this decision and hopes that it will help relieve the suffering of the children and families of southern Lebanon,'' Ereli told reporters traveling with Rice.

An Israeli government official, confirmed that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert agreed to a 48-hour halt in airstrikes on Lebanon. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity since he was not authorized to talk to reporters.

...

It appears that Hezballahs strategy of creating victims has worked to its advantage again. Haaretz reports that residence of south Lebanon will be give 24 hours to leave the area.

...

Israel will also coordinate with the United Nations to allow a 24-hour window for residents of southern Lebanon to leave the area if they wish, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli told a briefing in Jerusalem.

...
This puts a different face on the picture and it should put pressure on Hezballah to quit using its human shields.

Update: Did you notice that Kofi Annan and the rest of the world never get this upset when the enemy in Iraq deliberately targets 100's of non combatants, but when Israel hits a target in response to an attack the hypocrits go over the top? Have they ever insisted that al Qaeda must cease fire? Hezballah deliberately puts civilians in the line of fire and no one protest their conduct.

Update II: The Belmont Club discusses the fortunes of War and the bombing pause.

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