Seniora’s Offer To Olmert..

The Prime Minister has just made a speech to the Lebanese people. In it he made a proposal to Israel.

Seniora called for a complete cease-fire from both sides. The rest of the proposal goes along the lines of what Micheal Young proposed a few weeks ago. Here’s a reminder (from Michael Young):
“The five permanent Security Council members, perhaps at this weekend’s Group of 8 meeting, should consider a larger initiative based on the resolution that would include: a proposal for the gradual collection of Hezbollah’s weapons; written guarantees by Israel that it will respect Lebanese sovereignty and pull its forces out of the contested Lebanese land in the Shebaa Farms; and the release of prisoners on both sides”.

Mr Seniora however did not explicitly say: Hezbollah should be disarmed. He said instead: The Government will control the entirety of the Lebanese Territory and decide on war and peace matters.

Hezbollah hasn’t responded yet, but my hunch is that it will snub Seniora’s proposal by escalating more. Knowing Hezbollah, I guess Nassrallah might make a “stop being a chicken, we will not surrender” speech, and maybe launch a little something to Tel Aviv.