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War on Terror

Lebanon incursion becomes invasion

Olmert cabinet approves expanded ground operations


By Ryan Jones
August 09, 2006

Israel's security cabinet Wednesday approved an IDF plan to significantly expand its ground offensive against Hizb'allah in southern Lebanon.

The plan, which IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz argued fervently in favor of, will see thousands more Israeli troops inserted into Lebanon with the aim conquering all land up to the Litani River some 18 miles from the Israeli border. The Litani was the northern limit of the southern Lebanon security zone Israel controlled from 1982 to 2000.

It was approved in vote of 9-0, with three abstentions. Shimon Peres, Shas leader Eli Yishai and Labor's Ofer Pinas-Paz all chose not to cast a vote.

Immediately following the cabinet decision, Fox News reported additional Israeli forces were pouring across the northern border, apparently wasting no time getting started on their new mission.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was reportedly undecided on his position regarding the plan until just before Wednesday's meeting, fearing an expanded ground war will result in hundreds of IDF casualties and increased international criticism of Israel.

Halutz, meanwhile, insisted such a push is absolutely necessary if Israel wants a new reality to result from this war.

In related news, Halutz on Tuesday, with the full backing of Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz, placed his deputy, Maj.-Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky, in charge of directing Israel's war in Lebanon. Kaplinsky replaces GOC Northern Command Udi Adam in that role, and is expected to employ a far more aggressive approach to defeating Hizb'allah.

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