For Israel and Lebanon, The Death Toll's Rise Never Ceases

Ha'aretz reports that as many as two dozen Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were killed in Lebanon on Saturday, with another four dead today, while at least nine Lebanese civilians (including three small children) were mortally wounded.

With more than a dozen hours to go before the cease fire is supposed to kick in, the IDF is pummeling Lebanon hard while Hezbollah has reportedly launched some 250 rockets into Northern Israel, with Haifa particularly hard hit.

Gideon Levy has a fairly thoughtful piece in Ha'aretz about why some of Israel's failures in the Lebanon campaign are actually to the nation's credit. Loss equals win and that kind of thing.

You also may want to take a look at this Ha'aretz editorial on "How to Cease The Fire."