At the United Nations Tuesday, an Arab League delegation said Lebanon is being abandoned and that further violence could trigger an all-out civil war. Meanwhile, Lebanese Acting Foreign Minister Tareq Mitri repeated his country’s strong objections to the US-backed resolution.

• Lebanese Acting Foreign Minister Tareq Mitri: “The resolution leaves Lebanon vulnerable to the whims of Israel. How could it be viable. How could a resolution provide for a cessation of hostilities and then in fact carry the great risk of continued violence and destruction.”

In response, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman said the issue is not whether the UN can pass a resolution but whether it can agree on confronting Hezbollah.

• Israeli Ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman: “The critical test this council faces is not whether it can adopt a resolution. The question is whether this council and the international community can adopt a course of action, a blueprint for change which will end the threat that Hezbollah and its sponsors pose to the people of Israel and Lebanon and the region as a whole.”