Comments on the "Cease-fire Holding"

There has been much talk in media around the world about how the cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel is still "holidng."
Odd. Israel still maintains a stranglehold on Lebanon with its sea and air blockades. Olmert told Kofi Annan two days ago that Israel would not lift these horrible measures, despite the UN (and most of the world's calls). Without any serious calls for Israel to pay reparations for the billions of dollars damage it did, Lebanese are forced to go it largely alone, while Israel demands more aid from US taxpayers.

The Palestinians continue--Hamas and Fateh--to try to create a basis for unity in the face of the US-led global alienation campaign, a campaign totally contemptuous of the democratic process in Palestine. There are some rumblings in the Hebrew press that a prisoner exchange might well happen. Olmert needs a big, public gain such as the release of the Israeli soldiers would create. This might not save him from sinking, but it would mitigate the massive criticism of his failed leadership and perhaps allow him to point to at least one victory associated with his criminal invasion of Lebanon. Olmert's actions thus far have only put the lives of these three soldiers in greater danger while ignoring international calls to release the nearly 10,000 Palestinians and Lebanese (mostly civilian) prisoners Israel held (and often tortured) for years.