Did Shimon Peres Originate Cease Fire Idea From US?

2006-08-01

[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: There is a curious element to the narrative as we find Shimon Peres recommending a cease-fire from New York before Secretary of State Rice does. And while the narrative does not indicate if Mr. Peres also shared his thoughts with American officials, given his past record of "activism", it would be surprising if he did not - especially considering that "Peres' suggestion, however, was not given serious attention" by Israelis he contacted.

It should be noted that the country Mr. Peres happens to be "Vice Premier" of is Israel.]

Confusion as U.S. beats Israel to news of air strike suspension

Aluf Benn

Haaretz

1 August 2006

www.haaretz.com/ hasen/spages/ 744848.html

Publication late Sunday night of the decision to suspend aerial attacks in Lebanon for 48 hours confused much of Israel's leadership. The prime minister and defense minister's bureaus, as well as the Israel Defense Forces, had their own reasons for not making the announcement. As a result, the announcement came from U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's delegation, and not an official Israeli source.

Rice met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Sunday evening following the air force strike on Qana, and asked that Israel open a 24-hour "corridor" to allow residents of southern Lebanon to leave the area. Olmert consented, and said the matter would be coordinated with the military.

After hearing Israel's version of the Qana incident, Rice asked the prime minister how such incidents could be prevented from recurring.

"We are looking into it," Olmert responded.

Rice: "With us, in Iraq, when something like that happens, we immediately change the nature of the military action until the inquiry."

Olmert: "We will look into it."

A few hours earlier, Vice Premier Shimon Peres had landed in New York and heard about the Qana incident.

About 10 years ago, when Peres was prime minister, around 100 Lebanese civilians were killed in the same location by Israeli shelling during

Operation Grapes of Wrath. With this experience in mind, Peres placed a call to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and the prime minister's chief of staff, Yoram Turbowicz, and suggested that Israel take the initiative and declare a suspension of the bombardments.

"This would improve our international standing," Peres said, warning that Rice must not be allowed to end her visit here without making any achievements.

Peres' suggestion, however, was not given serious attention.

Meanwhile, Olmert's military secretary, Gadi Shamni, and political adviser, Shalom Turjeman, called the defense minister's military secretary, Eitan Dangot, to consult on how to grant Rice her request.

Shamni and Dangot formed a statement on the suspension of aerial strikes, and passed it over to Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz. The statement, with certain amendments, was approved at 10 P.M.

The Prime Minister's Bureau then informed the Americans that the IDF Spokesman's Office would publish the announcement at 11 P.M.

Rice's delegation viewed this as an okay to release the announcement, as State Department spokesman Adam Ereli did around midnight.

Journalists then looked for official Israeli confirmation, which came only at 1 A.M., in the form of a statement from the Prime Minister's Bureau.

Source: IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis