A draft resolution seeking an end to hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah as the first step towards a wider political settlement has received a mixed response from members of the UN Security Council.
Council members discussed the resolution, proposed by France and the US, behind closed doors on Sunday but differences in perception forced them to remit it to experts who are expected to meet shortly to sort out the issues.
By that time, the UNSC members would have got responses from their countries and will be ready for substantive discussions.
Diplomats said that depending on the responses, the resolution could be adopted wither on Monday or on Tuesday.
Attempts are being made to get foreign ministers to attend the Council meeting to buttress it with the strong political will of the major powers.
Lebanon has already expressed concern that the resolution does not call for withdrawal of Israeli forces from the areas they have occupied in the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, Israel says it will withdraw from the buffer zone carved by it when an international stabilisation force with a robust mandate is inducted in the area -- part of the second resolution to be adopted by the Council but which is expected to take several weeks to materialise.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, Israel says it will withdraw from the buffer zone carved by it when an international stabilisation force with a robust mandate is inducted in the area -- part of the second resolution to be adopted by the Council but which is expected to take several weeks to materialise.
{{/usCountry}}Israel tourism minister Issac Herrog was quoted by media as saying that the resolution would put pressure on Tel Aviv to complete its military operations quickly which indicates that military action might be escalated over the next few days as the Security Council finetunes the resolution.