A Cabinet Committee has decided that the fierce battles against Hizbullah terrorists in Lebanon last summer constituted a "war" and not an “operation.”
The Ministerial Committee for Symbols and Ceremonies decided Monday to officially define the conflict with Hibullah last summer in Lebanon as a war and release the name by Israel’s Memorial Day.
The Committee has so far deferred a final decision on the name itself due to a legal complication. It is not clear whether the name, The Second Lebanon War can be used, because the first Lebanon War was officially named by the government of that time as an “operation” and not a war, although it lasted for years.
The government, led by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz, opposed defining the conflict as a war until now due to the economic ramifications of such a move, as well as the fact that the government never officially declared a war.
On July 12, Israel’s Cabinet stopped short of using the term “war” in its declaration that Israel would respond to the kidnapping of two IDF soldiers in a “resolute and harsh manner.”
Until now, gravestones of the soldiers who died fighting were inscribed “fell in battle in Lebanon.” The bereaved families of the 117 soldiers killed threatened to change the inscriptions themselves to “war in Lebanon,” leading chairman of the Symbols and Ceremonies Committee MK Yaakov Edery to convene the committee.
Names proposed at the meeting included “War in the North”, “Peace For the North” (similar to Operation Peace for Galilee, the name used to refer to the first Lebanon war), "Campaign for the North", "Peace for the Sons War", “The War to Return the Captives” and "Northern Shield War."
Another committee was also charged with finding a name; this one appointed by Defense Minister Amir Peretz. Headed by Maj.-Gen. Yishai Bar, head of the IDF Military Appeals Tribunal and former judge David Libai the committee met Sunday to come up with a name and insignia to be worn by IDF soldiers who fought in the war. MK Edery says the two committees are coordinating with one another, but that committee is not considering the word “war” and is planning on terming the conflict an “operation.”
One proposal is to group those killed together with all those who died in Lebanon since 1982, noting either its official name Operation Peace for the Galilee or witing simply “the struggle against Hizbullah.” Another proposal is calling the war by the name given to the initial retaliatory strike by the IDF, “Operation Change of Direction.” Both names are reportedly unpopular with bereaved families.
The defense minister and the government must approve any final decision on a name before it becomes official.
Meeting with representatives last week, Peretz promised them a name would be chosen by Israel’s Memorial Day (April 22 this year).
The Ministerial Committee for Symbols and Ceremonies decided Monday to officially define the conflict with Hibullah last summer in Lebanon as a war and release the name by Israel’s Memorial Day.
The Committee has so far deferred a final decision on the name itself due to a legal complication. It is not clear whether the name, The Second Lebanon War can be used, because the first Lebanon War was officially named by the government of that time as an “operation” and not a war, although it lasted for years.
The government, led by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz, opposed defining the conflict as a war until now due to the economic ramifications of such a move, as well as the fact that the government never officially declared a war.
On July 12, Israel’s Cabinet stopped short of using the term “war” in its declaration that Israel would respond to the kidnapping of two IDF soldiers in a “resolute and harsh manner.”
Until now, gravestones of the soldiers who died fighting were inscribed “fell in battle in Lebanon.” The bereaved families of the 117 soldiers killed threatened to change the inscriptions themselves to “war in Lebanon,” leading chairman of the Symbols and Ceremonies Committee MK Yaakov Edery to convene the committee.
Names proposed at the meeting included “War in the North”, “Peace For the North” (similar to Operation Peace for Galilee, the name used to refer to the first Lebanon war), "Campaign for the North", "Peace for the Sons War", “The War to Return the Captives” and "Northern Shield War."
Another committee was also charged with finding a name; this one appointed by Defense Minister Amir Peretz. Headed by Maj.-Gen. Yishai Bar, head of the IDF Military Appeals Tribunal and former judge David Libai the committee met Sunday to come up with a name and insignia to be worn by IDF soldiers who fought in the war. MK Edery says the two committees are coordinating with one another, but that committee is not considering the word “war” and is planning on terming the conflict an “operation.”
One proposal is to group those killed together with all those who died in Lebanon since 1982, noting either its official name Operation Peace for the Galilee or witing simply “the struggle against Hizbullah.” Another proposal is calling the war by the name given to the initial retaliatory strike by the IDF, “Operation Change of Direction.” Both names are reportedly unpopular with bereaved families.
The defense minister and the government must approve any final decision on a name before it becomes official.
Meeting with representatives last week, Peretz promised them a name would be chosen by Israel’s Memorial Day (April 22 this year).
