Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 9, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba A8 Mideast in crisis Winnipeg free press wednesday August 9, 2006 diplomacy lebanese proposal intrigues Olmert Beirut would Send troops to Buffer zone by Matthew Fisher b Beirut ? israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert said yesterday a lebanese proposal to Send 15,000 of its troops to Southern Lebanon until an International Force could be deployed to disarm Hezbollah and police a Buffer zone along the Border was we have to study and examine and look at All the implications to see to what degree it is practical and in what time Frame Olmert told a news con Ference in Israel. The faster we can leave South Lebanon the happier we will but at the same time the prime minister threat ened to expand the israeli offensive in Southern Lebanon unless a in brokered ceasefire could be arrived at quickly. The option of further escalating israeli military operations against Hezbollah was first posed by Israel defence forces com Manders on sunday Olmert said. It will be on the Agenda when the israeli Security Cabinet convenes today. In a move bound to cause intense speculation in Israel that its military is considering expanding ground operations in Lebanon the country a no. 2 general Moshe Kaplinski who has Long combat experience in Lebanon was unexpectedly seconded to Northern command on yesterday to super Vise and co ordinate activities on the Northern front according to the a Aretz newspaper. As crisis diplomatic talks to end the War continued in new York and elsewhere Israel launched another series of punishing air raids against the Hezbollah stronghold of South Beirut on yesterday night after imposing what was in effect an open ended shoot to kill curfew across Southern Lebanon late monday. Israel also repeated a warning on yesterday that it would bomb any vehicle that moved in the South of Lebanon on the Assumption it could be transporting arms for Hezbollah. At the same time Israel continued to hit scores of suspected Hezbollah positions across Lebanon from the air and poured hundreds of artillery rounds into the South of the country. Hezbollah answered with nearly 150 rocket attacks on Israel and killed four israeli soldiers in intense ground combat just inside Lebanon. About 30 Hezbollah fighters died yesterday and five others were taken prisoner according to the israeli Media. The curfew that Israel has imposed across the South was widely observed yesterday by what remained of the population there according to the bbl which showed images of virtually deserted streets in the Southern port City of Tyre. The curfew and the continuing destruction of Lebanon a Road Grid by israeli air strikes has further complicated the work of Relief agencies trying to get food water and medical assistance to about 100,000 civilians trapped there. ? can West news service for each child under six you will receive $100 per month. But you May need to apply. The government of Canadas Universal child care came into effect on july 1, 2006. It provides Canadian families with $100 per month for each child under six. If you already receive the Canada child tax a cab you will automatically receive the Universal child care . If you Are one of the ten percent of families who do not receive the a cab you need to Complete the a cab form. It s simple to apply log on to and Click on the application links. Its that easy. Or visit your local service Canada Centre to obtain the form in can also Call 1 800 959-2221. 1 800 959-2221. You can apply anytime the St cheques have been can apply anytime and receive payments retroactively up to 11 months from your Date of application. This initiative is part of Canadas Universal child care plan which will also support the creation of thousands of real child care spaces through the child care spaces initiative. For More information visit the website at family thinks kidnapped Soldier alive by Allison Hanes Toronto ? in the agonizing month of worrying won Dering and waiting for word on the Fate of two israeli sol Diers kidnapped by Hezbollah one conviction has kept the flame of Hope flickering for their families. Yair Goldwasser said yesterday he believes the Mili Tants have everything to lose and nothing to gain by harm ing his older brother Ehud and fellow reservist Eldad Regev ? both captured Dur ing a daring incursion into israeli territory july 12. If he a alive he a being As Well kept As he possibly can be right now said 27-year?old Yair an army reservist himself. They Hezbollah Don to have anything but these two soldiers right now As a card to get out of this Situa Tion. They need them As a card to Ehud Goldwasser age 30, was just a Day away from Fin Ishing his month Long annual tour of duty As an israeli reservist when the humvee he was Riding in was ambushed. In the chaos that followed his family was first told he was Likely among those killed. But about 12 hours later tests to identify disfigured remains pulled from the car nage yielded a bittersweet result Ehud was not dead after All ? but he had been kidnapped. Ehud is one of three israeli soldiers currently in enemy hands ? and at the epicentre of the hostilities currently raging Between the jewish state and terrorist groups. Liberal my Khan is Harper adviser by Carly weeks Ottawa ? a Liberal my has agreed to become a special adviser to prime minister Stephen Harper on the mid dle East and Afghanistan it was announced yesterday. Liberal my Wajid Khan could be on his Way to three countries in the Middle East next week along with other backbench maps ? provided the situation in Lebanon stabilizes by then. Senior government officials say its part of an Effort to remove party politics from the escalating Mideast violence As Well As Canadas mounting death toll in Afghanistan. This announcement demonstrates that the government and the prime min ister understand the importance of building a Broad National consensus across party lines that sup ports our democracy building Mission in Afghanistan said Jason Kenney Harper Liam entry Secretary. We Are prepared to reach out across party lines to do As Well Khan is tentatively scheduled to leave in mid september on another trip to the Middle East and South Asia. He is to report Back to Harper in october. Khan born and raised in Pakistan served in the pakistani air Force before mov ing to Canada in 1974, where he became a prominent Mem Ber of Toronto a pakistani and Muslim communities. But Khan was also chosen in part because he under stands and supports Canadas Mission in Afghanistan and can Send that message to other canadians said Kenney. Or. Khan is very passion ate about communicating the importance of our presence in Afghanistan to canadians including canadians of mus Lim background he said. I think he brings a lot of exper Tise and knowledge to that Gilad Shalit 19, was Cap tured by Hamas militants in Gaza in late june sparking armed reprisals by Israel. Only a few weeks later Hezbollah used the cover of rockets and mortar fire from Southern Lebanon to ambush and seize Goldwasser and Regev 26. Their capture sparked the bombing Campaign that has left about 1,000 dead in Lebanon from israeli air strikes and 100 dead in Israel from Hezbollah rockets fired from launchers hidden in Southern Lebanon. Yair Goldwasser was in Toronto yesterday on a speak ing tour to raise Money to Aid victims on the israeli Side of the conflict ? and awareness about the plight of the miss ing soldiers. Goldwasser described his older brother ? affectionately known As udi ? As an open minded person who has a University degree in Environ mental engineering and was taking courses at a technical College in Haifa to become a professional photographer. Ehud Goldwasser is mar ried. He and his wife Karnit Are to celebrate their first anniversary in october. ? can West news service ;