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Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora. (AP)
Last update - 19:47 30/07/2007
Lebanon's Siniora slams hike in U.S. military assistance to Israel
By Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies

Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora criticized a proposed U.S. arms deal Monday that offers a sharp increase in defense aid to Israel, a rare rebuke against Washington by the Western-backed premier.

A statement issued by Siniora's office said he expressed displeasure, surprise and astonishment when he learned of United States plans to increase military aid to Israel by 25 percent, from $2.4 billion to $3 billion per year, guaranteed for 10 years.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said the increase in military aid would guarantee the country's strategic superiority over its neighbors, irrespective of upgrades to Arab forces in the region.
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Also Monday, the U.S. announced a proposed $13 billion military aid package for Egypt along with plans to provide such aid to Saudi Arabia and Gulf states.

This will involve selling Saudi Arabia an estimated $20 billion of sophisticated weaponry, including advanced air systems that would greatly enhance the striking ability of Saudi warplanes.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made the announcement hours before leaving with Defense Secretary Robert Gates for a rare joint trip to Egypt and Saudi Arabia where they are seeking more Arab help in stabilizing Iraq.

Rice said in a statement released in advance of her trip to the region: "This effort will help bolster forces of moderation and support a broader strategy to counter the negative influences of al-Qaeda, Hizballah, Syria, and Iran."

The Secretary of state said the aid to Israel will secure its ability to protect itself.

The U.S. has long-standing commitments to Israel and to Egypt. At the same time, Washington is seeking to strengthen other moderate Mideast allies, largely as a counterweight to Iran's growing influence.

"Modernizing the Egyptian and Saudi Armed Forces and increasing interoperability will bolster our partners' resolve in confronting the threat of radicalism and cement their respective roles as regional leaders in the quest for Middle East peace and in ensuring Lebanon's freedom and independence," Rice said in her statement.

Olmert has said the aid increase was pledged by U.S. President George W. Bush during his visit to Washington last November and was finalized in another round of White House talks in June.

The statement issued by Siniora's office warned that military assistance to Israel encour¬es and increases feelings of Arab and Islamic desperation and, consequently, strengthens and feeds extremist currents.

He added that increasing military assistance to Israel continues to disillusion Israelis into thinking they can sidestep the requirements of a just and comprehensive peace by maintaining military superiority.

Criticism of Washington is rare from the Western-backed leader, who has been accused by the Hezbollah-led opposition in Lebanon of siding with the U.S. and Israel during last summer's war against the guerrilla group.

Siniora argued the U.S. aid should have been spent on peaceful projects in the Middle East.

Also Monday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman criticized U.S. plans to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia, saying it would undermine security in the Middle East, the state broadcasting company reported.

What the Persian Gulf region needs is stability and security, Mohammad Ali Hosseini was quoted as saying on the Web site of the state broadcasting company. Americans have been trying to disturb it by selling weapons to the region
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  1.   Lebanon and Iran 18:44  |  Lynn 30/07/07
  2.   "increases ... Arab and Islamic desperation" 18:50  |  Fish 30/07/07
  3.   "brave" words from Hosseini 19:02  |  William 30/07/07
  4.   Siniora`s outburst. 19:03  |  David Nigel Braham 30/07/07
  5.   Surprised? 19:36  |  Aram 30/07/07
  6.   Lebanon Has Already Received It`s 1 Billion 19:47  |  Yosemite 30/07/07
  7.   Well, Mr. Siniora, it was Israel that was attacked from your 19:55  |  Eitan 30/07/07
  8.   Let`s see... 20:12  |  S. BatZvi 30/07/07
  9.   Arms Deals Arms Deals What We Gonna Do With All These Arms 20:12  |  George 30/07/07
  10.   First military power sending aid to 4th military power? 20:32  |  peace 30/07/07
  11.   I am glad to know... 21:24  |  Gaza Mo 30/07/07
  12.   "Strategic superiority" didn`t help vs Hizbollah 21:26  |  Natallie Durson 30/07/07
  13.   Sinora is an idiot 21:41  |  Ron 30/07/07
  14.   Rewarding the rough state 21:53  |  Magnus 30/07/07
  15.   If the situation was different.... 21:55  |  Ari 30/07/07
  16.   It all about profits! 22:09  |  David James Vickery 30/07/07
  17.   natallie,actually the technology hesbullah and 22:11  |  terrornator 30/07/07
  18.   Gaza MO & Natallie 22:14  |  Brad 30/07/07
  19.   Dear George: re arab on arab 22:15  |  David James Vickery 30/07/07
  20.   I`m not happy too 22:16  |  Edith 30/07/07
  21.   Siniora is himself responsible for that increase 22:23  |  Chick 30/07/07
  22.   To Edith...completely oblivious to reality 22:25  |  SLAVO 30/07/07
  23.   Siniora gonna cry again for the cameras 22:26  |  SLAVO 30/07/07
  24.   $30B aid to israel 22:26  |  bashar 30/07/07
  25.   Thankyou Edith in Belgium 22:30  |  David James Vickery 30/07/07
  26.   Brad, what you are saying is.... 22:36  |  David James Vickery 30/07/07
  27.   Siniora`s hands are not full enough in Lebanon mess 22:47  |  Genuine Tosefta 30/07/07
  28.   DJ Vickery 22:55  |  Albert Seligman 30/07/07
  29.   Where`s the story here? 23:02  |  Mark 30/07/07
  30.   David James Vickery 23:03  |  Brad 30/07/07
  31.   No.9 George 23:07  |  james 30/07/07
  32.   NATALIE 23:10  |  james 30/07/07
  33.   16David James Vickery,truly said,the arms manufacturers and their 23:10  |  lakshmi 30/07/07
  34.   #12 NUTallie Durson 23:11  |  * BEN JABO 30/07/07
  35.   terrornator, funny you mention cowards ... 23:25  |  Bernie 30/07/07
  36.   Chick, regarding Siniora 23:28  |  Bernie 30/07/07
  37.   No. 12 Natalie Durson 23:48  |  Goldsilver 30/07/07
  38.   #17, Terrornator.... 23:53  |  Silvienne 30/07/07
  39.   american aid to zionist state 23:55  |  arab 30/07/07
  40.   #33 lakshmi 00:04  |  * BEN JABO 31/07/07
  41.   Siniora the Puppet 00:09  |  Gene 31/07/07
  42.   #35 Bernie- what have you been smoking? 00:27  |  Chick 31/07/07
  43.   when muslims want peace the US wont give Israel weapons 00:28  |  zionist forever 31/07/07
  44.   Lakshim 00:38  |  Larry 31/07/07
  45.   40Ben Jabo,your account differs from mine,lebanon did not start 00:44  |  lakshmi 31/07/07
  46.   Here is the news 00:48  |  Danielle 31/07/07
  47.   The Weapons Only Help If They are Used 00:52  |  Jane 31/07/07
  48.   Puppet trying to look Credible 01:20  |  JDRoss 31/07/07
  49.   #44 UN branch of US State Dept. 01:38  |  JDross 31/07/07
  50.   #38 Silvienne on Iraq 02:12  |  Lynn 31/07/07
  51.   # 45 Danielle in the UK 02:16  |  Lynn 31/07/07
  52.   SINIORA CRYING AGAIN......what a disgrace! 02:33  |  Barry 31/07/07
  53.   JDROSS -COME and move us 03:11  |  JON FEIGENBAUM 31/07/07
  54.   #45 Lakshmi - let me explain the difference 03:31  |  * BEN JABO 31/07/07
  55.   #39, Arab in Palestine 03:43  |  Silvienne 31/07/07
  56.   #50, Lynn, my reply... 03:46  |  Silvienne 31/07/07
  57.   #45, Lakshmi 03:49  |  Silvienne 31/07/07
  58.   #53, Jon Feigenbaum in Florida 03:51  |  Silvienne 31/07/07
  59.   #53 Feigenbaum 03:59  |  JDRoss 31/07/07
  60.   Sionora Objects to Aid to Israel 04:36  |  Hank Curtis 31/07/07
  61.   Sionora Objects 04:36  |  Hank Curtis 31/07/07
  62.   weapons 04:47  |  Alex 31/07/07
  63.   Question? 05:50  |  Ken 31/07/07
  64.   # 13 07:04  |  fact 31/07/07
  65.   To all 07:12  |  fact 31/07/07
  66.   # 52 07:39  |  fact 31/07/07
  67.   # 1 lynn, he`s got good reason to be upset over this 09:00  |  eric 31/07/07
  68.   SILVIENNE and JD ROSS 13:42  |  JON FEIGENBAUM 31/07/07
  69.   Wouldn`t it be great!! 14:29  |  Steve 31/07/07
  70.   #57 Silvienne 00:17  |  * BEN JABO 01/08/07
  71.   #68 Silvienne & JD Ross 00:22  |  * BEN JABO 01/08/07
  72.   #62 Alex - Sydney- TELL IT LIKE IT IS 00:28  |  * BEN JABO