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Israeli government on Sunday approved a UN resolution aiming at ending the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah fighting, urging the international community to firmly implementing the resolution for fear of a rearmament of the Lebanese guerillas.

Members of the Israeli cabinet gathered on Sunday morning to vote on the UN Security Council Resolution No. 1701, during which the resolution was approved by 24-0, with Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz absent.

Shortly after the approval of the UN resolution, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said at a news conference that the Israel's acceptance of the ceasefire must lead to the disarmament of Hezbollah.

Due to concern on a possible rearmament of Hezbollah following ceasefire, Livni urged Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and the international community to implement the UN resolution and called on the Lebanese army to move into south Lebanon "immediately."

The resolution, unanimously adopted by UN Security Council on Friday, calls for Israel's withdrawal and authorizes an increase of the existing UN force in Lebanon to 15,000 troops to help Lebanese government troops take control of south Lebanon as Israel withdraws.

At the press conference, Livni expressed hope that two Israeli soldiers abducted by Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas would be released unconditionally.

The Israeli top diplomat said that the unconditional release of the captive soldiers would be considered as the beginning of all relationships between the governments of Israel and Lebanon.

On the front of Lebanon, the Lebanese cabinet postponed a planned cabinet meeting on Sunday to mull the implementation of the UN resolution, which was adopted on Saturday night, due to differences on disarming Hezobllah.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert voiced his optimism to the UN resolution, saying, "Hezbollah will no longer exist as a state within a state. Lebanon will be responsible for any problems or violations of the agreement."

However, Olmert's decision to accept the deal has drawn criticism from politicians on both the Right and the Left. Analysts said the decision could even endanger Olmert's post as the prime minister.

Parliament member Silvan Shalom from the right-wing Likud said the cease-fire was one of the worst Israel had ever been offered.

Shalom said Israel would not achieve any of its goals, including freeing its kidnapped soldiers and disarming of Hezbollah, while issues like the return of the disputed Shaba Farms and the release of Lebanese prisoners had been put on the agenda.

On the Left, the leader of Meretz party Yossi Beilin said that the expansion of operations in Lebanon was a "prize for Hezbollah" that would entail weeks of arduous warfare and heavy casualties.

Local daily Ha'aretz said on Saturday, citing a columnist, "If Olmert runs away now from the war he initiated, he will not be able to remain prime minister for even one more day."

Meanwhile, a poll on Ha'aretz showed that just one in five Israelis believed that if the war ended now, it could be considered a victory, while 30 percent said Israel was losing the war and 44 percent pollers said neither side would emerge a winner.

Israel launched a massive assault against Lebanese Hezbollah on July 12 in retaliation for abduction of two Israeli soldiers by the Shiite group during cross-border attacks.

Up to now, more than 1,000 Lebanese and about 150 Israelis have been killed during the past 33 days of fighting.

Israel's cabinet approved a UN resolution Sunday to end the Israel-Hezbollah fighting, government officials said.

Members of the Israeli cabinet gathered on Sunday morning to vote on the UN Security Council Resolution No. 1701, during which the resolution was approved by 24-0, with Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz absent.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed hope at the meeting that the kidnapped Israeli soldiers would be freed, while underlining that the truce was not linked to the soldiers' release, local newspaper Ha'aretz reported.

Describing the UNSC resolution as a good deal for Israel, Olmert said, "Hezbollah will no longer exist as a state within a state. Lebanon will be responsible for any problems or violations of the agreement."

The resolution, unanimously adopted by UN Security Council on Friday, calls for Israel's withdrawal and authorizes an increase of the existing UN force in Lebanon to 15,000 troops to help Lebanese troops take control of south Lebanon as Israel withdraws.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said at the meeting that Israel's current military operation in southern Lebanon would enable the demilitarization of the region and its transfer to the control of the UN and the Lebanese army.

"The main question is how Hezbollah would react, in any case, we are preparing for all the scenarios," said Peretz.

The defense minister noted that Israel was holding contacts with UNIFIL in order to establish a mechanism that would coordinate the deployment and IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

The Israeli approval to the UN Security Council Resolution No. 1701 came one day after the Lebanese government approved it unanimously on Saturday night.

Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah also vowed on Saturday to abide by any ceasefire brokered by the United Nations, but it would continue to fight until Israel's withdrawal.

Violence between Israel and Hezbollah has entered the 33rd day on Sunday since it was erupted on July 12 after the Shiite group snatched two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others during cross-border attacks.

Israel pounds Lebanon before planned truce  

Lebanese civil defense workers use a bulldozer to clear rubble during their search for survivors under the rubble of collapsed apartment buildings in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2006, following an Israeli warplane bombardment.(Xinhua Photo)

 
A man gestures after an Israeli air raid in a southern suburb of Beirut August 13, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)

Editor: Yan