Briefing by MK Avshalom Vilan on the War Emergency

The audience in a packed conference room at Beit Shalom heard from Meretz MK Avshalom (Abu) Vilan, on Israel's current war emergency.

He explained that Meretz abstained in a no-confidence vote not in opposition to military action against Hezbollah but because of the lack of an exit strategy. Abu quoted security minister Avi Dichter's warning to Olmert that Hezbollah cannot be defeated without a massive ground operation, something that risks disaster (again) for Israel in Lebanon.

Abu was very clear on what he wants: Hezbollah confined to the Bekaa Valley (or at least north of the Litani River), no resupply of missiles/rockets, a prisoners exchange (but doesn't envision the release of Isreali captives as a precondition), a ceasefire and the Lebanese army controlling the border. He also hinted at the possibility of leverage in the fact that Syria has one million people working in Lebanon, and needs their incomes because its economy has been so much weaker than Lebanon's.