Invasion arguments called bunch of hooey

January 22, 2008

John Bolton

JERUSALEM – Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton has rejected Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s explanation for waiting until the final 60 hours of Israel’s 2006 war in Lebanon to launch a massive ground invasion the Israeli army had petitioned to carry out at the start of the 34-day conflict.

Thirty-three Israeli soldiers died in the last-minute ground operation, which was canceled after Olmert agreed to a cease fire.

Bolton’s statements could have disastrous political consequences for Olmert, who has been facing a national probe into his handling of the Lebanon War that is scheduled to be released next week.

According to sources close to the probe, titled the Winnogrand Commission, Olmert testified he launched the massive ground incursion days before the cease fire because any major troop advancement in Lebanon would result in better truce terms for Israel.

But in an interview yesterday with Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, Bolton rejected Olmert’s claim.

“The Israeli military operation did not play a role in the talks on drafting U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701,” said Bolton, speaking from Jerusalem.

Olmert’s decision to allow the massive ground invasion has been a bone of contention for many lawmakers and the general Israeli public, with many calling for the Israeli leader to resign.

Israel launched a 34-day offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon July 12, 2006, after the Lebanese militia stormed the Israeli border and kidnapped two soldiers. Hezbollah had for years been accused by Israel of amassing stockpiles of rockets near the border aimed at the Jewish state.

Olmert ordered the massive battle in question on Aug. 11 after four weeks of reportedly refusing a larger ground offensive to reach Lebanon’s Litani River – about 18 miles from the Israeli border, encompassing the swath of territory from which Hezbollah fired most of its rockets into northern Israel.

Troop advances were halted some 60 hours later in line with a cease-fire proposal accepted by Israel to end the conflict.

Immediately after the war, Israeli military officials told WND that from the start of the Jewish state’s campaign in Lebanon, IDF commanders petitioned for the deployment of up to 40,000 ground troops to advance immediately to the Litani River and from there work their way back to the Israeli border while surrounding and then cleaning out Hezbollah strongholds under heavy aerial cover.

But Olmert at first only approved aerial assaults, they say. Two weeks later after Hezbollah retaliated in July by firing large numbers of rockets into Israel, the Olmert government approved a smaller ground offensive of up to 8,000 soldiers that, according to military officials, were not directed to advance to the Litani. The IDF was charged with cleaning out Hezbollah’s bases within about three miles of the Israeli border.

IDF leaders told WND they suffered in “very specific” ways on the battlefield because of a lack of sufficient ground troops. They cited instances in which they claimed there were not enough soldiers to surround key villages, such as Bint JBail in southern Lebanon, allowing Hezbollah fighters to infiltrate cities after the IDF began combat inside the areas.

<>P>After nearly four weeks of fighting, Olmert’s cabinet Aug. 11 approved the larger assault for which the IDF had petitioned, authorizing about 40,000 troops to enter Lebanon and advance to the Litani River. The IDF estimated it would need three days to reach central Lebanon and another four to six weeks to successfully wipe out the Hezbollah infrastructure in the areas leading back to the Israeli border.

But three days after the Israeli army was given a green light to advance – a cease-fire was imposed and the Jewish state suspended operations.

To interview Aaron Klein, contact Tim Bueler Public Relations by e-mail, or call (530) 401-3285.

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