The U.N. Security Council Tuesday debated a draft resolution aimed at ending the Israel-Hezbollah fighting.

Qatar's foreign minister, Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, representing an Arab League delegation, accused the U.N. body of standing by idly during weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

The Arab League delegation went before the Security Council to support Lebanon's demands for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. Lebanon has rejected the U.S.-French draft because it does not call for a pullout of Israeli forces.

Meanwhile, the United States says it is willing to consider a Lebanese government proposal to deploy 15,000 troops in southern Lebanon.

But a White House spokesman Tony Snow says there would have to be an international force to "supplement" the Lebanese troops.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says the Lebanese proposal to deploy troops is an interesting step worth studying. But Mr. Olmert says there will be no ceasefire in Israel's offensive against Hezbollah until the group releases two Israeli soldiers who were kidnapped July 12.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.