TEL AVIV, JULY 23, SPA -- ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER AMIR PERETZ SAID SUNDAY THAT THE 12-DAY-OLD OFFENSIVE IN LEBANON WOULD CONTINUE, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED. «WE ARE CONTINUING WITH THE OPERATION, AND THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH WE HAVE AS BROAD A SPACE FOR DIPLOMATIC MOVEMENT AS POSSIBLE,» PERETZ SAID AFTER MEETING WITH GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER. «THE GOALS WE SET FOR OURSELVES WILL BE ACHIEVED.» THE MEETING BETWEEN STEINMEIER AND PERETZ WAS ONE OF A SERIES OF DIPLOMATIC MEETINGS HERE SUNDAY AIMED AT ENDING THE OFFENSIVE IN LEBANON. FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER PHILIPPE DOUSTE-BLAZY WAS ALSO SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH ISRAELI OFFICIALS AND U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE WAS HEADED TO THE REGION AS WELL. --SPA 23/07/2006 10:46 ت م www.spa.gov.sa/377537