Israel leaders differ on expanding Gaza war

No U.N. action on Gaza as U.S. haggles with Arabs

DUBAI (AlArabiya.net, Agencies)

The Israeli leadership is divided over whether to enlarge its war in the Gaza Strip amid increased international pressure to end its deadly offensive, officials said Thursday following failure by the U.N. Security Council to agree on a ceasefire plan.

The impasse came as Arab ministers haggled with Western powers over U.N. action Wednesday night, pushing for a binding resolution while the United States sought a more diluted response.

The United States and its allies want a presidential statement to emerge from the U.N. Security Council, far weaker action than the legally-binding U.N. resolution requiring an immediate cease-fire and withdrawal of Israeli troops sought by Arab states, which Israel strongly opposes.

Middle East envoy Tony Blair urged the U.S. Thursday to fully back a Franco-Egyptian plan for a ceasefire in Gaza to end an Israeli military offensive that has left more than 700 dead.

Tony Blair, Middle East envoy

"I believe that it is now very important for the United States, along with the Security Council, and for everybody to do everything possible so that we can reach this accord," Blair said, speaking in French.

During a security cabinet meeting Wednesday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Ehud Barak were in favor of exploring the diplomatic
channel while Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and several other ministers voiced a more hardline approach.

"During the meeting Ehud Barak came out in favour of a new truce while I and several other ministers were opposed," Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon told Israeli television.

Israel sent send a top Barak aide, Amos Gilad, to Egypt for urgent talks on on a proposal by President Hosni Mubarak on how to end the 13-day-old war, and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said Washington will "follow up" on the initiative.

Rice and the foreign ministers of France and Britain stayed on an extra day in New York to push their case with Arab ministers, who face mounting anger on the street at home if they return without a strong U.N. response to Israel's invasion of Gaza last month.

"We believe there is still work to do," Rice told reporters after late-night discussions between Western and Arab ministers at U.N. headquarters in New York on Wednesday.

Security Council impasse

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks during a Security Council meeting at the U.N.

As diplomats argued over whether to adopt a resolution, violence continued on the ground. Israeli planes bombed the Gaza Strip on Thursday and tanks pounded Palestinians for the 13th day in response to Hamas attacks deep into Jewish state.

Negotiations were set to resume at the U.N. at 10 a.m. EST (1500 GMT) and Britain's foreign minister said it was important that there be unity in tackling the Gaza crisis.

"The world needs to hear the united voice of the Security Council," said British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who also extended his trip to New York to try to reach a deal with Arab ministers.

Egyptian Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz insisted a resolution was necessary to halt the fighting in which more than 700 Palestinians have been killed.

"We do not accept the presidential statement as it stands alone, meaning that the ministers can ... go home and arrive to find the fighting still going on," he told reporters.

Another Arab diplomat, who declined to be named, said the United States was holding back on calling for an immediate ceasefire, but rather referring to a "durable and sustainable" truce which would take longer to draw up.

“Our view is get a ceasefire now," said the Arab diplomat. "It's about principles and taking a position."

Who wants what

Palestinian FM Riyad al-Malki (L) and Permanent Palestinian observer at the U.N., Riyad Mansour

The Arabs want a Libyan-drafted resolution which focuses heavily on Israel's actions and makes only a fleeting reference to Palestinian rocket-firing. It "demands an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip."

Israel is demanding an end to Hamas rocket attacks and the smuggling of weapons into Gaza from Egypt before it halts its operation.

The nonbinding statement drafted by the three Western powers contains no demands, but "stresses the urgent need for an immediate and durable ceasefire." It also voices strong concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Also under discussion is an Egyptian ceasefire proposal between Hamas and Israel, which the United States backs while trying to include its own elements.

The Egyptian plan, partly brokered by France, calls for an end to the rocket attacks on Israel, the opening of Gaza border crossings and an end to weapons smuggling into Gaza.

Hamas said it was looking at the Egyptian plan while Israel said there was a broad understanding of the "general principles" outlined in the offer from Cairo.