Reply #6: Associated Press: Israel Plans to End Lebanese Blockade

[Judi Lynn]

Israel Plans to End Lebanese Blockade
By RAVI NESSMAN, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, September 6, 2006

(09-06) 13:05 PDT JERUSALEM, Israel (AP) --

Israel said it would lift its stifling air and sea blockade of Lebanon on Thursday, marking a crucial breakthrough in international efforts to rebuild from the war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas.

The move, announced Wednesday by the prime minister's office, will be the first major test for the U.N. force charged with keeping the peace and preventing arms shipments from reaching Hezbollah.

It was also a victory for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has repeatedly demanded that Israel end the blockade, and showed some disagreements can be resolved with U.N. mediation.

Israel is slowly pulling its troops out of southern Lebanon as international peacekeepers arrive. However, a deal on the thorniest issue — the return of two Israeli soldiers whose July 12 capture sparked the fighting — will be far more difficult to broker, since Israel has demanded their unconditional release but Hezbollah has insisted on a prisoner swap.
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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/0...