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John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. (AP) Last update - 22:09 20/01/2008 Bolton: Final IDF op in Lebanon had no impact on UN truce talks By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Second Lebanon War  John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, rejected Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's account of the incidents preceding the last Israel Defense Forces ground operation of the Second Lebanon War. Bolton told Haaretz that the final IDF operation, during which soldiers were ordered to proceed and take up positions along the Litani River, did not factor into the discussions finalizing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the fighting. Bolton, who is currently in Israel to take part in the Herzliya Conference on policy and strategy, said that a U.S.-French draft resolution drawn up on August 5, 2006 - six days before the final UN resolution was passed - was better for Israel, but required amending in order to secure the agreement of the Lebanese government. Advertisement The wording of the final agreement, Bolton said, was reached following constant deliberations, which lasted a week. The former envoy rejected Olmert's claim that Israel was displeased by the resolution that preceded the final draft, which Jerusalem received on the morning of August 11. In fact, Bolton said, the last week of the war saw a gradual retreat from a draft less amenable to Israel. Bolton said that the United Nations negotiations in New York were not affected by the events on the ground. Olmert and former defense minister Amir Peretz justified the final ground offensive, which claimed the lives of 33 IDF soldiers, on the basis of the claim of major differences between the various versions of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Bolton also said that the United States changed its position due the shifting opinions of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He said that after the Israel Air Force strike on the Lebanese town of Qana, which killed dozens of civilians, Rice retreated from her wish to reach a decision that would markedly alter the status quo in the region, and instead pursued a decision that would only secure a ceasefire. The former envoy also said that portions of resolution 1701 still have not been implemented, and that Hezbollah still constitutes a threat to Israel and to the government of Lebanon. Related articles: Ministry disputes PM's claim of divided UN stance during war Lebanese hospital: Number of casualties from Qana air strike is 28, not 52 Peace Index: Olmert should resign - even if Winograd doesn't say so Bookmark to del.icio.us   Message from space A newly-launched Israeli spy satellite sends Iran a very clear message. Gravediggers' plight Even getting buried in the Gaza Strip has gotten more complicated these days.   1.   Israels strategy of killing Arabs backfires 19:52  |  Natallie Durson 20/01/08   2.   ex envoy Bolton 20:05  |  US citizen 20/01/08   3.   Bottom line, Olmert and UN Peace keepers... 20:10  |  Avi 20/01/08   4.   Question for Amos Harel 20:15  |  Noam Leviton 20/01/08   5.   Lying Olmart 20:18  |  chaim 20/01/08   6.   Arab League chief: Initiative to end Lebanon crisis.. 20:21  |  Avi 20/01/08   7.   #4 A hoax 20:26  |  Bill 20/01/08   8.   Avi 20:27  |  Jon 20/01/08   9.   The deterance factor was established 20:29  |  TOMY 20/01/08   10.   #2 US citizen - for how long? 20:31  |  Yonatan 20/01/08   11.   to AVI 20:32  |  mike 20/01/08   12.   # 3 The UN peacekeepers 21:00  |  Kris 20/01/08   13.   US Citizen 21:19  |  rich 20/01/08   14.   The blame game goes on...! 21:19  |  John 20/01/08   15.   Bill and Qana 21:27  |  rich 20/01/08   16.   If Bolton says YES then it is YES 21:30  |  rich 20/01/08   17.   This (from Harel`s previous) is the damning claim 21:39  |  Rowan Berkeley 20/01/08   18.   Again Olmert Lies. Israeli`s get rid of this Idiot already 21:47  |  Shepherd 20/01/08   19.   #2 21:55  |  bashar 20/01/08   20.   Durson`s Addiction For Fiction Over Non-Fiction 22:04  |  Lavi 20/01/08   21.   All about who `won` 22:07  |  Colin Wright 20/01/08   22.   A hoax? 22:09  |  A. Shuman 20/01/08   23.   #1 the utterly absurd nutullie posts trash again 22:10  |  v hardman 20/01/08   24.   Truce I wish 22:13  |  Abdul 20/01/08   25.   Hey rich 22:20  |  A. Shuman 20/01/08   26.   Natallie #1 22:27  |  BRL 20/01/08   27.   Trifecta of idiocy: Olmert, Peretz, the UN 22:39  |  RA 20/01/08   28.   response to natellie D. 22:43  |  Tino DellaPietra 20/01/08   29.   Bolton For Israeli PM , Oust Peres with Olmert 00:25  |  Joseph E . 21/01/08   30.   What are you saying 00:35  |  Sam 21/01/08   31.   Bolton: Final IDF op in Lebanon had no impact 00:56  |  Efi 21/01/08   32.   Self-delusional idiot 00:58  |  W 21/01/08   33.   Senseless waste of lives. A planned war March 2006! 01:02  |  Maureen Ann 21/01/08   34.   Bolton`s comments 01:16  |  Fred B. Smith 21/01/08   35.   Lebanon War--an Israeli Victory 04:44  |  US CITIZEN 21/01/08   36.   Israeli public had it, would vote for military government, soon ! 06:24  |  zamir 21/01/08   37.   yonatan 10 08:53  |  realism 21/01/08   38.   US didn`t want any truce 09:11  |  Marilyn 21/01/08   39.   Bolton safeguarding Israel`s interest not US`s. 11:34  |  American 21/01/08   40.   John, tell it like it is. This man is the only man fit to be 17:20  |  Pssd off American. 21/01/08   41.   to Maureen Ann#33 17:25  |  Ilya 21/01/08   42.   Bolton is an ass 18:46  |  betz55 21/01/08   43.   Durson`s opinions perpetually backfires 01:18  |  Joe Stein 22/01/08

Today Online Day after Gaza blackout, PM says 'Gazans can walk' Responses: 386 Poll: Only 16% of Israelis back Diaspora input on fate of J'lem Responses: 53 Source: Israel won't free two-thirds of prisoners demanded by Hamas Responses: 31 Israel launches new satellite bolstering ability to spy on Iran Responses: 58 Gideon Levy: The mass killing in Gaza is just hurting both sides Responses: 85 Rosner's Domain Domain's guest: American Jews must help improve Israel's education Obama's position on Israel questioned, again Why Republican candidate Mike Huckabee worries Jewish voters Rosner's Mailbox: Huckabee the candidate who would not sell Israel out Meadow Soprano is more proud of Israel than the US (WTR) More Headlines 22:49 Israel okays one-time delivery of fuel and medicine to Gaza 23:47 Official: East J'lem construction tenders now need Olmert's okay 21:37 Barak calls for more pressure on Gaza Strip to stop rocket attacks 22:01 U.S. immigrant beaten up in 'pogrom' by ultra-Orthodox gang 23:52 N.Y. Jews commemorate Martin Luther King Day with dozens of events 23:58 Dalia Rabin backtracks in row with academic over speech in Arabic 17:55 Ministers to inquiry: Olmert to blame for late Lebanon war push 16:37 Lebanon newspaper says it has photos of IDF soldiers' remains 18:26 Court orders release of elderly suspect in botched suicide pact with his wife Previous Editions Select Day 21 jan 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan 09 jan 08 jan

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