Israel sees green light to continue
An adamant Israel insisted yesterday that the international community has given it the green light to press on with its deadly war on Lebanon.
Dubai: An adamant Israel insisted yesterday that the international community has given it the green light to press on with its deadly war on Lebanon and vowed to step up its air offensive.
A day after a Rome conference on Lebanon failed to find a solution to the crisis, Israel's stance drew shocked reactions from a majority of world powers, including the European Presidency, which said Tel Aviv had drawn a completely wrong conclusion from the meeting.
"It is their own and wrong interpretation," Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said. Italian Premier Romano Prodi said: "The position expressed by the conference can never be interpreted as an authorisation" for hostilities.
Earlier, Israeli Justice Minister Haim Ramon told army radio: "Yesterday in Rome we in effect obtained the authorisation to continue our operations until Hezbollah is no longer present in southern Lebanon."
Israel's insistence came as US President George W. Bush said yesterday he was "troubled" by the destruction, but rejected any "fake peace". As Israel's bloody offensive entered its 16th day, Israel's army said "enormous" damage had been inflicted on Hezbollah.
On the Lebanese streets a poll reported by Al Jazeera TV said 78 per cent of the nation supported Hezbollah.
With additional inputs from Agenciesrs
