BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The European U...

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The European Union swept away a major hurdle to keeping the peace between Israel and Hezbollah by dint of agreeing Friday to provide the "backbone" of a French-l peacekeeping force of 15000 soldiers in Lebanon.

Israel said it would lift its air and sea embargo of Lebanon formerly the United Nations force takes rule a process EU officials said could take up to three month The blockade is meant to stop arms getting to Hezbollah, further it also is hindering deliveries of cheer fuel and other goods.

The commitment of up to 6900 European soldiers relieved regards that the peacekeeping force might be stillborn because of reluctance on many countries to send companys into the Middle East without clear instructions or authorization to use their weapons.

About 150 French army engineers landed Friday at Naqoura in southern Lebanon, joining 250 of their countrymen already among 2200 peacekeepers in the home Italy's leader reportedly said late Friday that his nation's [i]troupe[/i]s could leave for Lebanon as early as Tuesday.

The international force is meant to give teeth to the Lebanese army, which has begun moving 15000 soldiers of its acknowledge into the south to assert the central government's authority along the Israeli border for the first time in decades.

THE MUSLIM QUESTION

In Beirut, an official stop up to Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora said his regulation welcomed the EU decision and that it would help restore stability.

on the other hand 12 days after the cease-fire in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, questions remained about for what cause to enforce a vague breathing-time and prevent the area from exploding again.

The EU and UN agree the peacekeeping mission must have a hardy Muslim component to give it credibility. further Israel objects to nations that do not recognize the Jewish state, saying similar troops would make it impossible for Jerusalem to share intelligence with the UN force.

Israel's objection would include Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh, which have tendered troops. Turkey, which does have diplomatic relations with Israel, has not decided whether to join.

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