Protesters in Israel call for a unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- As Israel prepared to retaliate for Hezbollah guerrilla attacks, Israeli lawmakers locked horns Monday in a heated debate over whether to withdraw Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.

Opposition Labor party member Yossi Beilin accused Israel's defense minister, Yitzhak Mordechai, of "gambling with (the) lives" of Israeli troops by stationing them in Lebanon.

Seven Israeli soldiers have died in the past two weeks in southern Lebanon, where Israel has patrolled a small strip of land since 1985 to prevent Hezbollah guerrillas from launching attacks into northern Israel.

Mordechai ruled out a unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon, saying Israel's occupation is "dictated by reality." He bristled at Beilin's charge that leaving troops there meant "certain death."

"I am gambling with the lives of Israeli soldiers, I fought my whole life here," Mordechai said after he and Beilin stormed out of a session of Israel's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees on Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered limited airstrikes against Hezbollah, and he insisted Israel must remain in southern Lebanon to protect Israeli citizens. But he is under pressure from the United States not to escalate the war.

Public support for the occupation has waned significantly recently, as increased fighting has claimed more Israeli lives.

"I think a growing number of people in Israel are sick and tired of the bloodshed in Lebanon. We want to bring the boys home," said a woman at a protest near Netanyahu's office.

Opponents of the occupation demonstrated outside a special meeting of Israel's Security Cabinet on Sunday, chanting, "Lebanon is a disaster."

Inside, military commanders informed Cabinet members about the escalating clashes in Lebanon. The Cabinet decided there would be no unilateral pullout from the region.

Israeli troops have occupied southern Lebanon since 1985

Columnist Nahum Barnea wrote in the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot that the Cabinet debate was convened not so much to find answers, but to appease the public. He predicted the fuss would die down once several days passed without any Israeli casualties, as it has before.

Netanyahu told Israel radio his policy on Lebanon would not be determined by the media.

"We have the responsibility to do the right thing for the state of Israel, not for the next newscast," he said.

While visiting the most recent casualties, Netanyahu signaled better protection for soldiers, not withdrawal, would be his priority.

"I believe we can do more to change the circumstances on the ground so that our forces are less vulnerable," he said.

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But increasingly, Israelis feel the fighting in southern Lebanon is a war they cannot win.

"A regular army could not face successfully a terrorist guerrilla movement, because they have the initiative, the motivation," said Moshe Maoz of Hebrew University. "They are very mobile, and they have all kinds of ways to attack this Israeli position, so there is no solution."

Lebanon's government has demanded an unconditional Israeli withdrawal. It said if Israel leaves, Hezbollah would have no reason to strike. Hezbollah has refused to give Israel any assurances.

Israel has accused Syria, which stations 35,000 troops in Lebanon, of encouraging Hezbollah to escalate its attacks in an effort to pressure Israel. Until recently, Israeli policy barred any withdrawal from Lebanon without a peace agreement with Syria.

Jerusalem Bureau Chief Walter Rodgers and The Associated Press contributed to this report.