France Proposes "Humanitarian Truce"

Yesterday, French officials have presented the other permanent council members what may become an alternative temporary solution to a cease-fire. The French have come up with a so called "humanitarian truce", in order to address desperate needs for food, water and medical supplies of the Lebanese citizens trapped inside the war zone, but also create a security corridor in the southern part of Lebanon that would be guarded by a multinational force, led in great part by the French. This corridor would probably fall under the authority of the Security Council.

Moreover, this force would complement the Lebanese army, who would be deployed to the southern part of the country in order to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1559.

Other diplomats also agreed that a truce might be more pertinent to Israel than a cease-fire, because it would not impose permanence yet would depend on the on going developments. "An expanded peacekeeping force would help stabilize the situation, working with the Lebanese government to help strengthen its army, and deployed fully throughout the area", UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in yesterday's press conference.

He also acknowledged that "the continuation of UNIFIL in its current configuration and with its current mandate is not tenable". UNFIL's mandate is due to expire at the end of this month and Israel has stated on many occasions that this organization has proved its ineffectiveness.

As far as an agreement to end the current crisis is concerned, Annan gave the following coordinates that should be taken into consideration: The release of the captured IDF soldiers, a cease-fire, an expanded peacekeeping force, implementation by the Lebanese government of Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1680 to establish Lebanese sovereignty and control, convening a donor framework to secure funding for an urgent package of aid, reconstruction and development for Lebanon, formation of a mechanism to monitor and guarantee the implementation of all aspects of the agreements, an international conference to endorse a delineation of Lebanon's international borders, including a final resolution of all disputes, especially concerning the Shaba Farms.

Moreover, Annan urged Israel to "establish safe corridors for humanitarian workers and relief supplies to reach the civilian population", a request which Israel agreed upon, with the assistance of France, to bring in all humanitarian aid via Cyprus.