Israel to lift Lebanon sea, air blockade

[Roon]

JERUSALEM - Israel will lift its sea and air blockade of Lebanon on Thursday evening, the Israeli government announced Wednesday.

A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said international forces would replace the Israelis at command positions over Lebanese seaports and airports.

Israel has been maintaining the blockade since the beginning of its offensive in Lebanon, which ended with a cease-fire late last month. The Israeli said the blockade was necessary to prevent new arms shipments to Hezbollah guerrillas
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14697319/

[Drum]

1. ...Yeah, while American arms shipments got to roll on through.

Sickening!

[mike_c]

2. good-- here's hoping this helps speed the recovery in Lebanon....

eom

[xchrom]

3. well yeah -- cause other countries swere going to start

flying their planes in any way.

[The Stranger]

4. It is about fucking time -- now maybe food, medicine, supplies can get to

those who survived the Israeli attacks killing innocent civilians.

[WHAT]

7. and the environmental clean-up can start...

I'm glad Europe wouldn't allow refueling...that may have helped

yay

[Trajan]

5. Yay .....

Good .....

Now : ... WHO is making the absolutely necessary effort to find peace in that region ? ...

WHO are using the offices of state to craft a reasonable peace that can be upheld as honorable by all parties involved ? ....

Just WHO THE FUCK is lifting ONE GODDAMNED FINGER to try to find a solution to the heartbreaking hostility that keeps re-emerging over and over again ? ....

Not THIS bunch of fucking numbskulls ....

Aint no money to be made in peace .....

[Judi Lynn]

6. Associated Press: Israel Plans to End Lebanese Blockade

Israel Plans to End Lebanese Blockade
By RAVI NESSMAN, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, September 6, 2006

(09-06) 13:05 PDT JERUSALEM, Israel (AP) --

Israel said it would lift its stifling air and sea blockade of Lebanon on Thursday, marking a crucial breakthrough in international efforts to rebuild from the war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas.

The move, announced Wednesday by the prime minister's office, will be the first major test for the U.N. force charged with keeping the peace and preventing arms shipments from reaching Hezbollah.

It was also a victory for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has repeatedly demanded that Israel end the blockade, and showed some disagreements can be resolved with U.N. mediation.

Israel is slowly pulling its troops out of southern Lebanon as international peacekeepers arrive. However, a deal on the thorniest issue — the return of two Israeli soldiers whose July 12 capture sparked the fighting — will be far more difficult to broker, since Israel has demanded their unconditional release but Hezbollah has insisted on a prisoner swap.
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/09/06/international/i130518D43.DTL&type=politics

[breakaleg]

8. it's time to start to rebuild. too bad Israel won't foot the bill.

[Robbien]

9. Ha, I hear Israel is going to ask for more US aid to help defray

the costs of dropping tons of bombs on Lebanon.

I expect Lebanon will be rebuilt long before the Katrina Gulf coast area.