A United Nations resolution aimed at ending the conflict in Lebanon is being held up by arguments over how the border area with Israel should be policed and could now be delayed furhter by the news that Israel has sanctioned a deeper offensive into Lebanon.
The United Nations has yet to act to halt the conflict and an Arab League delegation warned that civil war could erupt if Beirut's terms were not met.
There were bitter exchanges at the United Nations yesterday, as Arab League envoys pushed for changes to a Franco-American draft resolution which Lebanon has rejected even before its submission to the Security Council.
Afterwards, Israeli ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman said: "I'm not quite sure what purpose this meeting served."
France and the United States are now revising the draft, debating the make-up of an international force.
Lebanon wants an immediate ceasefire and a quick withdrawal of Israeli troops from the south, where it says 15,000 Lebanese soldiers backed by UN peacekeepers can deploy to stabilise the area.
US officials say the army is too weak to subdue Hizbullah and French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said Beirut's offer to send troops to the south was significant but a simultaneous withdrawal of Hizbullah would be needed.
Israel insists it will pull out only when theses forces are in place and Hizbullah rocket attacks have been stopped. Jerusalem this afternoon acted on its threat to expand an offensive deeper into southern Lebanon.
The move was recommended Defence Minister Amir Peretz. Nine ministers approved the decision. Three abstained. The advance into Lebanon could step up pressure for a deal on terms that suits Israel and its ally Washington, but it could also cost Israel more casualties, without necessarily halting Hizbullah rocket fire.
Hawks in the Israeli government and military favour pushing on to the Litani river, 13 miles inside Lebanon, and possibly beyond, hoping to inflict maximum damage on Hizbullah before a ceasefire takes hold.
"The rockets must be eliminated and we must leave a fenced and clear area ... into which the multinational force will enter," cabinet minister Gideon Ezra told the Ynetnewswebsite.