Barak seeks Clinton's OK for war

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is appealing to the United States for approval of a massive offensive against Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority.

So far, the United States has appealed to Barak for more time.

Israeli Cabinet ministers have urged Barak to launch massive attacks on Lebanon in retaliation for the Hizbullah capture of three Israeli soldiers, government sources said. Barak convened his ministers on Saturday night and later announced a Tuesday deadline for war.

"If we don't see a change in the violence over the next two days, we will direct the Israeli military and security forces to use all means to stop the violence," Barak said. "A new situation has been created. This is a struggle for our very existence."

The Palestinian Authority immediately rejected Barak's ultimatum. "This does not scare us," Palestinian Legislative Council speaker Ahmed Qurei told PA radio Sunday. "It does not scare us at all."

Israeli officials said Barak spoke on the telephone to President Bill Clinton and senior U.S. officials four times during the last 24 hours. Barak said Clinton has convened his senior aides to discuss the Middle East and is making an all out effort to maintain peace.

The officials said Barak is giving Clinton another 48 hours to win support in the United States and in the international community. Meanwhile, the Clinton administration has contacted Egypt, Iran and Syria and urged President Hosni Mubarak to delay a planned Arab League summit later this month.

Israeli officials stressed that they are ready for war. "Everyone remembers [the 1973 war on the Jewish fast of] Yom Kippur when we fought on two fronts and succeeded," Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh said. "People should learn that lesson."

But Cabinet ministers complained that Barak was not consulting them amid the current crisis. They and several military leaders said Barak has failed to take charge and his restraint is being regarded as weakness by the Palestinians and their Arab allies. One minister said the Clinton administration's reaction to the current threats appears sluggish.

An Israeli Cabinet meeting has been scheduled for Monday night, after the fast of Yom Kippur.

Israel has brought helicopters and armor to the northern border to fight Hizbullah and its Palestinian allies. Hizbullah rained shells on Israeli northern border settlements on Saturday after Hizbullah captured three Israeli soldiers on patrol of the border. Six soldiers were injured.

A Lebanese officials said the soldiers would be returned after all Lebanese detainees were freed by Israel.

The northern border was placed on alert and the military sealed off key roads to prevent attacks on motorists. Barak spent much of the day on the phone with U.S. President Bill Clinton and his senior aides.

Lebanese television said that Israeli tanks shelled Hizbullah cars and members. The television said 20 were injured.

The sources reported flight by Lebanese from several border villages. Hizbullah released a statement on Saturday night, warning of attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians.

"Attacking Lebanon under any pretext will be a foolish Israeli action to which we will respond severely and comprehensively," Hizbullah said. "All Zionists, soldiers and settlers would be targets to the attacks of our heroic fighters. The captured Zionist soldiers will be held until we achieve the targeted objective of this blessed operation and the enemy knows it has no other option."