Israeli army medical personnel treat wounded comrades near the Israel -Lebanon border, yesterday. -Xinhua/Reuters

An expansion of the Israeli army's ground operations in Lebanon is on hold so as to allow time and room for diplomatic efforts toward a solution to the 30-day-old fighting between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, said Israeli ministers yesterday.

On Wednesday, the Israeli security cabinet approved in principle the defense establishment's plan for an expanded ground offensive in south Lebanon.

But Israeli ministers said on Thursday that the cabinet had delayed the widening of ground operations in order to give more time to the UN Security Council to work out a deal to end the violence.

"We have to exhaust all the diplomatic options, especially when important diplomatic efforts are being exerted in New York for a solution," Israeli Minister of Justice Haim Ramon told Israel's public radio.

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism Isaac Herzog said, "A political process is currently underway and our sense of responsibility tells us to give it a little more time."

"It is important that Israel remains open to diplomatic options at this time," he added.

Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres, one of the three ministers who abstained from the vote over the expansion of ground operations during Wednesday's security cabinet meeting, said that he preferred to give the diplomatic channels a chance to solve the conflict.

Minister of Science and Technology Ophir Pines-Paz from the left-wing Labor party, who also abstained, said that he believed Israel was rushing into military engagements before exhausting diplomatic options.

The security cabinet has authorized Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz to decide when to expand the ground offensive, which Israeli officials said might last at least 30 days.

"In a way, the decision is a threat for what will happen if there is no progress in negotiations," said one Labor minister in the cabinet who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"It's meant to pressure relevant parties to move forward, or Israel will be forced to exercise its full force," the minister added.

Meanwhile, the cabinet's approval of widening ground operations in Lebanon has sparked disputes among Israeli lawmakers.

Left-wing legislators have voiced protests in the Knesset (Parliament) against the decision.

"This decision will become a death trap for Israeli soldiers," said lawmaker Zahava Gal-On of the left-wing Meretz party. "The cabinet decision will reduce the possibility of a ceasefire agreement."

Meretz Chairman Yossi Beilin also called the cabinet's decision "a tragic mistake", saying that Israel was on the verge of "a war of attrition on the ground."

In addition, many Arab lawmakers protested the cabinet's go-ahead to widening ground moves, with legislator Mohammad Barakeh slamming it as "insanity testifying to military arrogance."

"This is the time for diplomatic initiatives but not military adventures," said Taleb a-Sanaa, another Arab lawmaker, who has repeatedly urged the cabinet to ignore its "militant instincts" and resort to diplomatic channels instead of military operations.

But the right-wing Knesset members have lent strong support to the expansion, with many praising it as a "brave and just decision."

"Finally, the government gave the Israel Defense Forces the mandate to defend the country from missiles and rockets," said lawmaker Yuval Steinitz of the Likud party, urging the government to deploy the troops to south Lebanon as soon as possible.

"The simple truth is that only the Israeli army can fight Hezbollah and eradicate its military presence in southern Lebanon," Steinitz added.

Led by Benjamin Netanyahu, the opposition Likud party has been the most staunch supporter for Olmert's government since the conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah broke out on July 12, causing many to call Netanyahu the "un-opposition leader."

Other opposition parties, such as NU-NRP, have also supported the ongoing massive Israeli offensive in Lebanon.

Effie Eitam, a NU-NRP lawmaker, said the cabinet's decision was "brave and unavoidable in light of the Hezbollah assaults on Israel's cities."

"We must remember that there are no happy wars, but the Israeli army must achieve a victory and bring triumph to the State of Israel," Eitam said.

While Israel holds off the expansion of ground operations in south Lebanon, the UN Security Council is working close to a deal aimed to put an end to the over-four-week-old violence.

France, which has proposed a draft resolution along with the United States, said on Thursday that a breakthrough could come soon in the diplomatic efforts.

"Things are moving in New York today. I hope they move even more rapidly and in the hours to come," French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told reporters.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton also said that there could be a vote of the Security Council over a draft resolution by Friday.