1. Approximately 60 people, including around 40 children, killed in
shelling of residential building in Qana.
US: ISRAEL TO SUSPEND AIR FORCE ATTACKS.
Continuation of the operation: Ground activities to continue, Air Force
to hit only launchers. Several hours earlier, PM said operation would
continue until deployment of international force. Killing in Qana: IDF
version – Air Force attacked house that collapsed at 01:00 but reports
were received only at 08:00; Lebanon – Building collapsed immediately
after assault. Security Council: US thwarted Security Council
condemnation of Israel over killing of Lebanese civilians in Qana; Blair
– Situation cannot continue. Ground activity: Significant expansion of
ground activity; at least seven IDF soldiers wounded in fighting with
Hizbullah, west of Metulla. Halutz examined again: Chief-of-Staff
Halutz examined again yesterday evening at TA’s Ichilov Hospital and
sent home; IDF Spox – „Chief-of-Staff’s situation is fine.”
HATZOFEH
1. Increasing international pressure on Israel to end the assault on
Lebanon.
APOLOGIZING – AND CONTINUING.
Israel apologized yesterday for Air Force assault in which a building
crumbled and 57 Lebanese were killed. IDF doubts link between assault
and building collapse and says that six hours passed between firing and
building collapse. Olmert and Peretz assure: Despite everything –
fighting will continue.
2. MAJOR TERRORIST ATTACK FOILED IN CENTER OF COUNTRY.
Yesterday: Security forces prevented major terrorist attack in the
center of the country only a few hours before it was due to be
perpetrated. Suicide terrorist with ready explosive belt arrested in
Samaria.
MA’ARIV
1. Israel agrees to 48-hour break in aerial bombardment of stationary
targets.
OLMERT: OPERATION WILL CONTINUE.
Fifty-six Lebanese killed yesterday in IDF bombing in Qana. World
condemned and called for ceasefire. Last night Israel announced – „We
will halt aerial attacks for two days but if firing resumes we will
return to action.” Olmert makes it clear: Operation still far from
over.
2. OPERATION EXPANDS: IDF RETURNS TO EASTERN SECTOR.
Large numbers of regular troops went into operation across border from
Metulla. At least 10 terrorists eliminated.
3. LEBANESE ARMY FIRED AT IDF HELICOPTER.
Reuters: Incident occurred near Baalbek; helicopter returned fire and
was unharmed.
4. TURNOUT AMONG RESERVISTS OVER 100%.
Almost all those who received emergency call-up orders reported
yesterday. Dozens of volunteers joined them.
5. REFUSED TO GO TO LEBANON AND WAS SENTENCED TO 28 DAYS’ IMPRISONMENT.
Refusenik studied with abductee Ehud Goldwasser.
YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Following event in Qana: Israel succumbed to American pressure to
freeze aerial assault.
ISRAEL AGREES: LIMITED 48-HOUR CEASEFIRE.
After private meeting between Prime Minister and Secy. of State
Condoleeza Rice, Olmert agreed to halt initiated aerial attacks in
southern Lebanon for limited period. Significance: Freeze in actions
against „bank of targets”. Air Force cannot bomb launch zones and
access roads. Can strike at launchers and in ground support. Senior
security establishment sources: We were surprised by decision.
2. KIRYAT SHEMONA: 98 KATYUSHAS IN ONE DAY.
Hizbullah broke record again yesterday: 156 Katyushas fired at northern
communities – 21 people wounded and considerable damage.
______________________________
SUMMARY OF EDITORIALS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS
Hatzofeh says that, „Yesterday’s event in Qana was regrettable,” and
suggests that, „The Arab world has not learned a thing and its
willingness to sacrifice innocent civilians by bringing them to centers
of fighting knows no boundaries.” The editors aver that, „We must
apologize and continue striking at Hizbullah.”
Yediot Ahronot believes that, „Accepting responsibility for the tragic
bombing of Qana does not cancel the justification for the overall war,”
and adds, „This is a just and justified war and the bombings are also
just and justified.” The editors assert that, „Today, Israel bows its
head over the fresh graves of the civilians who were killed in the Qana
bombing,” but also declare that, „Israel will not stop the fighting
until the reason for its outbreak is uprooted. And this will happen
only when Hizbullah is disarmed of its missiles and western and Lebanese
military forces deploy in southern Lebanon, according to UN Security
Council Resolution #1559.”
BreuerPress-info
