How Long Can the Cease-fire in Lebanon Last?
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It's been less than a day, but the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah seems to be holding. Refugees are streaming back to southern Lebanon as the United Nations tries to assemble 15,000 peacekeepers. Plus, some thoughts on the what Hugo Chavez's visit to an ailing Fidel Castro says about the state of Latin American leadership today.
Main Topic
How Long Can the Cease-fire in Lebanon Last? ()
In the first few hours of the cease-fire, there were no Hezbollah rockets fired on northern Israel, and Israeli artillery fell silent for the first time in many days. There were reports of fighting in southern Lebanon, but refugees were streaming back into devastated towns despite Israel's ban on travel. At the UN, diplomats were struggling to put together a credible 15,000-person peace-keeping force to restrain both sides in a crisis that may not be over for some time to come. Both sides are claiming victory, but Israeli Prime Ehud Minister Olmert is under heavy criticism from the left and the right. Will Hezbollah willingly disarm under the watch of international peacekeepers?
Guests:
- Farah Stockman: Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Boston Globe
- Steven Erlanger: Jerusalem Bureau Chief, New York Times, @StevenErlanger
- Yossi Klein Halevi: Israel Correspondent, New Republic
- Akiva Eldar: Political Columnist, Ha'aretz
- Borzou Daragahi: Reporter, Los Angeles Times, @borzou
- Judith Palmer Harik: retired Professor of Political Science, American University of Beirut
Links:
- UN Resolution 1701 on the situation in Lebanon
- UN Resolution 1559 (2004)
- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Middle East cease-fire
- UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on cease-fire
- White House press briefing on cease-fire
- Erlanger's article on civilians returning home as truce begins
- Eldar's article on Israel's presence in Lebanon
- Daragahi's article on cease-fire
Reporter's Notebook
Chavez, Fidel and Latin American Leadership ()
Hugo Chavez went to Havana today, where he was met at the airport by Raúl Castro, the first time Raúl had appeared in public since Fidel Castro gave him temporary custody of the reins of power in Cuba. Six photographs in the official Cuban newspaper Granma show Fidel in his hospital bed, visiting with the Venezuelan President. Journalist Phil Davison reports on the Chavez visit and what it means for leftist leadership in Latin America.
Guests:
- Phil Davison: Journalist
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