Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Dan Halutz on Tuesday appointed his deputy to serve as his representative in the Northern Command, local newspaper Haaretz reported on its website.

Major General Moshe Kaplinsky's appointment, however, does not mean he will serve as the commander of the northern front as Israel battles with Hezbollah, IDF sources were quoted as saying.

They added that Kaplinsky's position would be to coordinate land, air and sea operations in case of a widescale offensive.

Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz on Tuesday reiterated that Israel would only accept a cease-fire when southern Lebanon was demilitarized, and Hezbollah was disbanded and returned the two IDF soldiers whose abduction sparked the current crisis.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will convene his security cabinet Wednesday for a discussion on expanding the IDF ground offensive in south Lebanon, according to the report.

Violence erupted on July 12 when Lebanon's Hezbollah guerillas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed eight during cross-border attacks.

The international community has stepped up calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah to end the 28 days of fighting.