There were no reports of Israeli strikes on cars Monday - a sign Israel
did not want to risk rekindling the conflict. But at least one child was killed
and 15 people were wounded by leftover ordnance that detonated as they returned
to their homes in the south, security officials said.
The rush to return and rebuild came despite a standoff that threatened to
keep the cease-fire from taking root. Israeli forces remain in Lebanon, and
Hezbollah's leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, said the militia would consider them
legitimate targets until they leave.
The next step in the peace effort - sending in a peacekeeping
mission - appeared days away.
A Lebanese Cabinet minister told Europe-1 radio in France that Lebanese
soldiers could move into the southern part of the country as early as Wednesday.
The U.N. plan calls for a joint Lebanese-international force to move south of
the Litani River, about 18 miles from the Israeli border, and stand as a buffer
between Israel and Hezbollah militia.
"The Lebanese army is readying itself along the Litani to cross the river in
48 to 72 hours," said Lebanese Communications Minister Marwan Hamade.
A United Nations force that now has 2,000 troops in south Lebanon is due to
be boosted to 15,000 soldiers, and together with a 15,000-man Lebanese army
contingent is to take control of the border area.
France and Italy, along with predominantly Muslim Turkey and Malaysia,
signaled willingness to contribute troops to the peacekeeping force, but
consultations are needed to hammer out the force's makeup and mandate.
Officials said Israeli troops would begin pulling out as soon as the Lebanese
and international troops start deploying to the area. But it appeared Israeli
forces were staying put for now. Some exhausted soldiers left Lebanon early
Monday and were being replaced by fresh troops.
Israel also would maintain its air and sea blockade of Lebanon to prevent
arms from reaching Hezbollah guerrillas, Israeli army officials said.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gave the order Sunday to halt firing as of Monday
morning, his spokesman Asaf Shariv said. However, "if someone fires at us we
will fire back," he added.
Isaac Herzog, a senior minister in the Israeli Cabinet, said it was unlikely
all fighting would be silenced immediately. "Experience teaches us that after
that a process begins of phased relaxation," in the fighting, he said.
Just three hours after the cease-fire, Israeli troops fired on a group of
Hezbollah militiamen approaching "in a threatening way," the army said. One
Hezbollah fighter was hit, but it was not known if he was killed or wounded.
Israeli troops later shot a Hezbollah fighter aiming his rifle at them near
the village of Ghanduriya. The army did not say if the man was killed.
No fighting was reported elsewhere.