Cabinet to decide whether to intensify fighting

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and top Cabinet ministers are to decide Thursday whether to broaden the military offensive against Hizbullah in Lebanon, officials said. Top army commanders have recommended that the government approve a wider campaign, military and government officials said. The recommendation came as Israel suffered its heaviest losses yet in the 15-day offensive. On Wednesday, nine soldiers were killed and 25 wounded in fighting in southern Lebanon.