Israel holds off on Lebanon offensive for talks

JERUSALEM, Aug 10: Israel plans to allow more time for US-led diplomatic efforts to resolve its dispute with Hizbollah before carrying out its decision to expand a ground offensive in Lebanon, a cabinet minister said today.

''There is a certain diplomatic process under way,'' Tourism Minister Yitzhak Herzog told Israel's Army Radio. ''We can allow a little more time to see if there's a possibility for a diplomatic process.'' But Herzog, a member of Israel's decision-making security cabinet, made clear Israel would go ahead with its military plans if the talks failed.

''If there won't be a diplomatic solution, there will be a need to remove this threat,'' he added, referring to more than 3,300 rockets Hizbollah guerrillas have rained on northern Israel since hostilities erupted on July 12.

Israel Radio quoted a senior political source as saying Israel is pessimistic about chances the diplomatic efforts would succeed, adding ''these efforts could collapse within hours.

Israel's Maariv daily said in a front-page report that Israeli leaders decided after midnight to suspend plans they had decided on hours earlier to widen the four-week-old assault.

Israeli forces currently operate within around 8 km of the border but yesterday's decision could bring the army to the Litani River, some 20 km into Lebanon.

Israel's Channel Two television reported yesterday evening that the expanded offensive is under way, citing movement of troops and tanks from the northern town of Kiryat Shmona toward al-Khiam. But the army said the incursion is a local operation against Hizbollah rocket crews in al-Khiam.

REUTERS

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