Israeli Death Strike On Village

Israeli air strikes killed 14 people yesterday in a village that was busy burying 15 victims of a bombing raid just 24 hours earlier.

Another 23 people were injured in Ghaziyeh, southern Lebanon, as 1,500 mourners scattered into the streets.

The Israelis said they were targeting the home of Sheik Mustafa Khalifeh, a Hezbollah cleric.

Earlier at least 30 people died as Israeli bombs wiped out three blocks of flats in a terrorist stronghold in Beirut.

The huge blast was the closest to the centre of the city since Israel launched its offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon nearly a month ago.

Residents of the Shiyah district thought they were safe because they bordered the city’s Christian old town.

Meanwhile, a proposed UN peace deal will be delayed while ministers of Arab nations appear before the Security Council. They want Israel to withdraw from Lebanon once fighting ends.
Lebanon says the current US-French resolution favours Israel — and has suggested sending 15,000 of its own troops into the war zone.
A resolution could be decided today — but there will be no vote until tomorrow.
Hezbollah will reject any truce that leaves Israeli troops in Lebanon.

Israel insists it will not withdraw until it is guaranteed Hezbollah rocket fire will stop.