Blair rejects MPs' call for unilateral Israeli cease-fire
Calls on Hezbollah to return soldiers, disarm as cease-fire conditions; Rice expected to arrive on Sunday.
By Shmuel Rosner News AgenciesBritish Prime Minister Tony Blair rejected calls Wednesday for Israel to declare a unilateral cease-fire in the growing Mideast conflict, insisting that Hezbollah must first free Israeli soldiers and stop firing rockets at Israel.
Blair told lawmakers at his weekly House of Commons question session that Hezbollah must make the first move to halt hostilities that erupted a week ago when militants nabbed two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid.
"This would stop now if the soldiers who were kidnapped wrongly ... were released," he said. "It would stop if the rockets stopped coming into Haifa, deliberately to kill innocent civilians."
"If those two things happened, let me promise ... I would be the first out there saying 'Israel should halt this operation,"' Blair said.
"How can we be evenhanded if we're not willing to condemn Israel's disproportionate response?" Liberal Democrat Party Leader Menzies Campbell said.
Blair said it was important that Israel's military action be proportionate and that it do its best to minimize civilian casualties - but he clearly placed blame for the conflict on Hezbollah.
He said it was impossible to return to negotiations on the so-called road map for peace between Israel and the Palestinians when Israel cannot be confident of its security.
"In the end, the only negotiated way through this is by everybody committing themselves to exclusively peaceful, democratic means and that has to hold on both sides of the border," he said.
Rice expected to visit region on SundayU.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to visit the region this Sunday, sources in Washington said Tuesday.
They added, however, that her departure could be delayed if the situation warrants it. The Bush administration is apparently sticking to its decision to allow Israel to complete its military operation before the international community imposes a cease-fire, and Danny Ayalon, Israel's ambassador to the United States, told the media on Monday that the time is not yet ripe for Rice's visit.
Meanwhile, Israel's United Nations envoy Danny Gillerman said on Tuesday that Rice was expected to arrive in the region on Friday.
The State Department confirmed Rice's intent to visit, and said she will visit both Beirut and Jerusalem. She also plans to meet - in a four-way summit - with the foreign ministers of the Arab states that oppose Hezbollah's attacks on Israel, primarily Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The venue for the four-way summit has not been announced, but may be Cairo.
Under growing international pressure to step up U.S. diplomatic efforts, Rice has said there should be a cease-fire in the Middle East "as soon as possible when conditions are conducive to do so."
She said on Tuesday she would travel to the region "when it is appropriate and when it is necessary and will be helpful to the situation" but gave no indication of the timeframe.
However, the U.S. has yet to formulate its position on the various ideas that have been broached for ending the fighting. In particular, it has not yet decided whether to support the stationing of an international force on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
The American Jewish community will hold a rally in support of Israel on Wednesday in Washington, similar to Monday's rally in New York.
Ambassador Ayalon appeared at a conference of Christian leaders who support Israel on Tuesday, and other pro-Israel events were also held in other cities. Later this week, a group of Jewish leaders is planning a solidarity visit to Israel.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are discussing resolutions that denounce Hezbollah, Syria and Iran and express support for Israel's operations in Lebanon and Gaza. The resolutions are expected to pass both houses of Congress with sweeping bipartisan support later this week. The Senate resolution urges President George Bush to use all political and diplomatic means, including sanctions, to prevent Syria and Iran from continuing their anti-Israel activity. The vote was postponed Tuesday after several senators asked that a clause expressing sympathy for Lebanon's civilian casualties be added, but it will apparently be held on Wednesday.
Bush concerned Syria trying to reassert influence in LebanonU.S. President George W. Bush said Tuesday he suspects Syria is trying to reassert influence in Lebanon more than a year after Damascus ended what had effectively been a long-term military occupation of its smaller, weaker neighbor.
"It's in our interest for Syria to stay out of Lebanon and for this government to survive," Bush said in a reference to the young, Lebanese government.
Bush spoke after briefing members of Congress about his recent trip to Russia for an economic summit that was overshadowed by warfare between Hezbollah and Israel.
"The root cause of the problem is Hezbollah and that problem needs to addressed," Bush said.
He said there are suspicions that the instability caused by the Hezbollah attacks would cause some in Lebanon to invite Syria back into the nation. "Syria's trying to get back into Lebanon, it looks like, seems to me," Bush said.
Bush said the international community must address the actions of Hezbollah. "The world must deal with Hezbollah, with Syria and to continue to isolate Iran," Bush said.
Bush believes Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is not doing enough to bring regional stability, the White House said on Tuesday.
"The president believes that at this point President Assad is not doing what he can to create stability, which would be to stop housing terrorist organizations and providing safe haven for them and permitting people to conduct terrorist operations or at least planning on his soil," White House spokesman Tony Snow said.
The United States pressed Iran and Syria on Tuesday to exert their influence over Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas to halt rocket fire into Israel and return two captured soldiers to help end a week-old crisis.
Washington stuck to its position that its ally Israel was acting in self-defense and voiced reluctance to back calls for an immediate cease-fire while Hezbollah kept up cross-border rocket attacks that have drawn a wave of Israeli air strikes.
Defending U.S. efforts to quell the conflict, White House spokesman Tony Snow said it was up to Syria and Iran, Hezbollah's key supporters, to rein in the guerrilla group.
Analysts have said Iran may be using its clout with Hezbollah to show it can hurt U.S. allies and interests if Washington goes ahead with efforts to get UN sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program.
"Israel is proceeding in the manner it sees fit to defend itself and its territory," Snow told reporters. "We've got to remember who's responsible for this - Hezbollah. Hezbollah started this."
"And Iran and Syria, its backers, ought to be using their influence to get Hezbollah to stop firing rockets and return the soldiers," Snow added.
Snow reiterated the U.S. appeal for Israel to act with restraint, saying, "We lament the death of innocents, whether they be in Israel or in Lebanon or in Gaza or anywhere else."
But he signaled U.S. resistance to pressuring Israel into an immediate cease-fire that would leave Hezbollah's rockets still within range of Israel's northern towns and cities.
"A cease-fire that would leave the status quo ante intact is absolutely unacceptable. A cease-fire that would leave intact a terrorist infrastructure is unacceptable," he said.
Snow said it was important to avoid further destabilization of Lebanon's fragile government but that it was too early to talk about sending a multinational security force to the Israel-Lebanon border.
Italy says it's pressing Damascus for dialogueItaly is pressuring Syria to get a dialogue going in hopes of defusing the escalation of fighting involving Lebanon and Israel, the Italian foreign minister said on Tuesday.
Italy's new premier, Romano Prodi, has been carving out a role for his country in efforts to stop violence in the Middle East.
"We have exercised pressure on the Syrian government," Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said, briefing the Chamber of Deputies on the Middle East crisis. "Several times Prodi has called Assad, to try to get a dialogue going."
During the G8 summit, which ended Monday in Russia, U.S. President George W. Bush suggested that Syria could use its influence on the Hezbollah guerrillas who have been attacking northern Israel with rockets.
Italy has traditionally good relations in the Arab world and with Iran, as well as ties to Israel that have improved in recent years. Prodi has relayed Israel's conditions for a cease-fire in Lebanon. He has also spoken with a top official of Iran, which along with Syria, is a principal support of Hezbollah.
D'Alema said he contacted Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to try to put pressure on the Hamas militant group to release a kidnapped Israeli soldier.
The foreign minister urged Europe to take a united front on the Middle East. "We have seen how divisions have hurt the EU's influence in foreign policy," D'Alema said. "It's a negative lesson which shouldn't be repeated."
|
British PM Tony Blair and UN chief Kofi Annan arriving at St. Petersburg during the G8 summit on Monday. (Reuters) |
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
tony blair is at the cutting edge of international politics. his political legitimacy comes, in part, from the british "representation of the people" act of parliament. enough of the people he represents are nowhere near the cutting edge, far from it. two days before the british destroyer "Gloucester", the fighting G, hit beirut, i picked up some internet traffic from the sailors on board (and on the "bulwark"). believe it or not they were hoping that israel would have a go against them, because they were itching to teach israel a lesson. and then the usual crap. tony knows different, no doubt, but he does have to represent the people. (that includes maybe 2 million moslem immigrants, who exploit the host country's ignorance. who get good jobs, cars, houses, girls, you call it, just got to walk the streets. londonistan, elsewhere. meanwhile if you're a jew with 350 years of family in the country you wonder where you might be better placed).
Is this what the ignorami on the left have sunk to?A nation only wanting to be left alone and exist in peace surrounded by hostile Arab Nations who try to cleanse Jews aout of Israel in 67 ( and got humped) and 73( humped again). Palestinians still live in misery by there own failed leaders and policies of not recognizing the Jewish state. Israel leaves South Lebanon and Gaza only to be filled in and the attacking resumes. ad nauseum This time I fear Israel will end this threat to them from Syria, and Iran once and for all.The rest of the Arab world bordering Israel seem to have got the message.These arab nations only seem to understand one thing like all bullys. a right blodding beating and to take responsibility for what happens within your own borders.
Tony Blair, true to form, stretched his neck and pursed his lips: reaching as far as he could without toppling, he made sucking and smacking noises, and eventually the posterior of George Bush felt the gesture. Tony Blair remains the most fawning of Bush toadies in the world. The nation which reared Churchill has produced a gelding willing to sell out England at any price.
Thanks for your gracious response. Just how did New Zealand get to Darwin? Are you really an Aussie? Anyway, to use your example, if I were an innocent Israeli holidaying in Darwin in those conditions I would be grateful to anyone offering me an escape route.
Syria didn't help Australians get out you fool! They just didnt stop them because that would be like kidnapping people...oh wait that's right it's ok to kidnap Israelis but not Australians sorry I forgot. Tell me, if Newzealand started installing missile silos in Darwin because they wanted to attack Indonesia, then Indonesia started firing back to defend themselves who would you blame? The Hezbollah are using Lebabnon as a battle ground yet the Lebanese let them. Much like the innocent Palestinians let Hamas fight from their homes. When will the Arabs stop using and abusing their brothers for the insane extream ideologies of a select few at the dispense of a the mass.
What happened to the IDF? I thought they were a strong and invincible fighting force. They can't handle a few Kalashnikov toting extremists?
this convinces me more and more ,that people like are just evil and don't like other races and will work to destroy other nations ,just because you think you were choosen,you stupid idiot,wake up and wait .if you kill someone ,you just make more enemies,and by the last aggression ,you have made millions new enemies.Palestine was stolen and taken by force,and all of you people know that.there are 300 million arabs,if only 1/10 of them want to fight israel.you just want to make a 3WW that is going to end this world.plastine will not stay in your hands for too long,because life has to be fair.
That's Poodle Boy Blair.
its not IDF, its the terror army
FYI Straw is jewish.
He is so proud of America in its "crusading war against Communism" in Vietnam, as he puts it, yet at the same time he accuses Jews of being aggressors and "bringing terrorism to the Middle East". Good thing he dropped out of the Republican party.
"You keep them. they are the fruits of your work!!!!" Actually, no. Hezbollah was assembled specifically by Iranian Revolutionary Guards (which has its own Hezbollah faction) serving in Lebanon in the early '80s, with the goal of exporting the Islamic Revolution and destroying Israel. This is a fact that Iran has always been proud to admit. The proper place for Hezbollah is in Iran. Ahmedinejad can put them in Khuzestan (Arabistan), where I am sure they can help policing the unruly Ahvazi Arabs on behalf of his terrorist regime.
I am stunned at Mr Blairs speech....... the fact that he gave an evenly balanced statement has taken me totally by surprise. Well done Mr Blair.
I agree that the UN is toothless, to say the least. I am not sure that Lebanon is in a position to invite anyone in. That would imply a cease fire by all sides, and I do not see that happening right now. Nor do I see France going in practically alone. They have historical interests in Lebanon, but they are not usually suicidal. Hizbollah would not hesitate undermining them, if not directly, then indirectly. The one calling the shots is Iran. Therefore, any outside force would have to be authorized to fight back and be willing to take the risks.
He is buying Israel time to finish its job. Regarding the comments about England being Pro-Arab, there was a very interesting documentary at the CBS where they show several European countries and how they are starting to react to the Muslim lack of respect fpr local values, Netherlands is the one that has gone further in term of legal requirement but the UK is getting there, slowly tough. It would be better to focus on the French government.
The UN has time and again proved itself toothless. Ultimately, the Labanese government has the right to invite in anyone they find acceptable to help them. After the fact, they may or may not go to the UN and ask their action to be ratified. NATO did something similar in Bosnia. If they did not, Israel could of course petition the UNSC for the removal. If the Lebanese government chooses this option, everyone else will have to live with it. A new complication will be added to the mix.
Blair is doing the most we can expect from the goyim. He hasn't blamed israel for the conflict, he realizes that calling for a suicide would be disastrous for Israel, and he has blamed syria and Iran for it. England is pro arab and if it were up to them it would be far worse, Blair on this issue gets my props.
Several people here abused and ridiculed Blair. What has he done? He has expressed support for Israel, and he has offered to send British troops as peacekeepers into Lebanon. Since the British are already in Iraq and in Afghanistan, they will know by now that this would not be a cakewalk. After the current clash will be over, you will have two choices - either occupy Lebanon yourselves, or leave it to somebody else. The former doesn't seem to wildly popular. If the latter, would you really like some Liberians with a sprinkling of Filipinos, or after all rather the British? Forgetting who your friends are is really an advanced form of demented chauvinism.
Yes, Syria is doing a lot. It has armed Hizballah with lethal missiles; it has colluded with its ally Iran in instigating Hizballah to attack Israel, thereby endangering the people of Lebanon; its agents had assassinated Hariri, making even the French furious; they have allowed their soil to be used for the transfer of suicide bombers into Iraq; they have and are hosting various terror groups who have their headquaters in Damascus. So yes, Syria has done a lot, and now it is time for Syria to undo all the dammage it has caused the entire region.
Soldiers dont get 'kidnapped'... they may get wounded, captured or killed but only non-combatants get kidnapped.
A CEASE FIRE''; IS THE HUMANE; AND LOGIC ACTION,IT HAS BEEN SINCE THE END OFww2THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMUNITY SHOULD STEP IN TO STOPE HUMAN SUFFRING CAUSED BY A WAR ,WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE CONLFLICT OR THE WAR TO SHAPE, THE OUTCOM.THIS IS VEREY CRUEL, AND IS INHUMANE ,TO LET PEOPLE, DIE UNTIL THEY STOP FIGHTING.. THAT HAS NEVER BEEN A GOLE FOR HUMANBEINGS OR UN.THIS ADMISTRATION ARE TWISTING THE WHLOLE WORLD INTO VERY DANGEROUS PATHS AND WAYS OF LIFE .
I cannot imagine those countries being acceptable. Indeed, I cannot imagine many countries being acceptable.
a great Zionist! Jews have the right to live in every country they were born into, no matter what Nazi shit like Nizar think. Also I have no idea where he got that story about the bombed bus with the children from...sounds like a Pallywood narrative - always including children...The IDF let all the buses with refugees pass unharmed, a thing Arabs do not do with Jewish buses. By the way, where came the rocket from that killed the two Israeli Arab siblings in Nazareth...Hezbullah, isn't it?
Israeli Military know very well that Hezbollah fighters have moral values and prevent themselves of attacking to kill except with the Military. Military experts know very well that the battle with Hezbollah didn't start yet and the first 8 days of the war have been spent in killing Lebanese civilians and destroying buildings. The real war is comming and the real loss will be in the soldiers who cost the Israeli budget. Let's wait and see
In order to get a unilateral cease-fire from the Hizbullah terorists, who today killed TWO CHILDREN IN NAZRETH, I suggest that the Israeli Air Force do what the Allies did in France and Europe before enetring enemy territory, namely 'blanket bomb' a good sized strip along the border.
That is for the UNSCR 242 to apply to the Capitol Hill, having it decleared "Israeli occupied territory"?
Was it a disproportionate response when London police shot and killed a man on public transportation they thought was a terrorist? No. Yet, the British Liberal Democrat Party Leader, Menzies Campbell, is all too quick to condemn the Jews for self defense against KNOWN threats to their lives. Let Campbell go to Lebanon, have some tea and crumpets with the rocketeers of the south, and ask them to stop.
Mr. Blair seems to forget that the conflict is between Israel and the Hezbollah, not between Israel and Lebanon. In fact, Israel would welcome the intervention of the Lebanese government so long as that government is motivated to throw the terrorists out of the country. Sadly though, the Lebanese government doesn't seem to be in control of both their own country and of their own army.
Hit Hezzbollah hard! The only thing that will work against these animals is force, violence, and destruction. As a Christian, this is a hard thing to say, but it is true. We would all be better off if all of Hezzbollah were dead. Go for it Israel, we in the US are right behind you. To Iran and Syria - you are next...
The United States and the rest of the international community needs to stay away from this warzone. Let Israel and Hizbullah/Syria/Iran finish this war. Israel is trying to secure its borders and get rid of terror to give safety and security to its people--a basic necessity for a state to exist. If it explodes to a regional war then so be it. America and Britain are in Iraq with reserves waiting at home. The longer the world waits, the more problems the world will have in combating terror.
Said Prophet Buchanan: "Already, Bush is ranting about Syria being behind the Hezbollah capture of the Israeli soldiers. But where is the proof? Who is whispering in his ear? The same people who told him Iraq was maybe months away from an atom bomb, that an invasion would be a "cakewalk," that he would be Churchill, that U.S. troops would be greeted with candy and flowers, that democracy would break out across the region, that Palestinians and Israelis would then sit down and make peace? How much must America pay for the education of this man?"
i was wondering why the atmosphere in this talkback is so one sided, and sent my opinion on the whole issue, but i cant find it anywhere. i guess, i also have been influenced by the so called israeli democracy. What a joke!
Zionist Influence On The US War Machine The Israeli lobby has many "thinktanks" that provide future advisors to the various administrations, both Republican and Democrat. During the Clinton Administration, the Israeli lobby provided officials from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy like Martin Indyk. During the Bush Jr Administration, many of the officials the Israeli lobby provided are from their Republican "thinktanks," like the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA). http://www.rense.com/general36/zinf.htm
I agree! The UN ought to write a stern letter to Hizballah demanding that they play fair or else they will get an even more stern letter....
I find it ironic that 'bad guy' Syria has helped rescue Australians from under the bombs of our 'ally' Israel.
Incredible that Pres. Bush is concerned Syria reasserting influence in Lebanon when Israel has been bombing it back 20 years for six days. Could bombing a country be an attempt at influencing it, toppling its elected govt., and possibly installing leaders Israel & the US want?
The blame for the recent conflict is with Hezbullah, Syria, the Lebanon goverment, Iran etc.Wait- didn't Iran start supplying Hezbullah with missles the day Israel betrayed the South Lebanon Army and removed them from Lebanon. They could have also had representitives in the Lebanon parliment like Hezbulla. They could have explained Israels case to the Lebanon people. They would have acted as a partial buffer. But no- they now live in the parts of Israel being rocketed- no safer than they were in south Lebanon. I hope Israel learns to not betray her friends in the future and sends the SLA back to most of Lebanon instead of an international force.
Don't you know it has always been like this. Look at all responces from Hisbilla leaders, how brave they are. They entered their shelters minute after Israel started banging them, but they knew the attack will be limited because Israel will have to hurt civilians. However it didn't happen, Israel is going to finish this ugly worm this time. They will think twice next time before kidnapping anyone.
USE THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND AND ANNEX THE TERRITORY OF ERETZ ISRAEL....
The bottom line is that this is not a conflict involving the United States, and it is not a conflict they could even begin to understand. The United States needs to stop becoming the world judge and let the United Nations take a foothold and do what it was created to do; the US has enough problems right now.. Right now the problem is not Syria, it is the entire Middle Eastern region. This specific conflict is between two nations though; Labanon and Israel, and it needs to stay that way unless the world as a whole wants to become involved, and that should be through the United Nations.
As Israel is ready to attack Lebannon, but holds back from taking military steps against Syria, the Lebanese people can reasonably question whether the Syrian presence in their country may have been a viable price to pay for a measure of security. Perhaps, though, the correct conclusion is that the middle east is simply too rough for such a small state to be able survive as an independent entity.. The options open to the Lebanese government are, indeed, very limited. If they were to invite Syria back, it would likely be permanent this time, with Lebanon reverting back to a semi-autonomous region within Syria, much as it was 100 years ago. Another alternative could be a comprehensive alliance with Israel. I wonder whether anyone is thinking this way?
Maybe if Hezbollah would quit hiding behind the skirts of women, less civilians wouls get hurt. Hiding behind women and children.... Thats a pussy move!
First Destroy Hezbullah; second an alliance of Us forces(over130-,000), Syrian Kurds, Israel and Iraqui Kurds destroy Syrian regime. Syria is surrounded. This will benefit all parties. After that Iran is surrounded by forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. There will never be another opportunity where both these regimes are surrounded. The time is now to end their terrorism support. Removing Syrian and Iranian terrorism support will make the US successful in Iraq. Remember Iraq is no longer able to fund terrorism. Syria and Iran need the same conditions of chaos. Chaos is good in the lands of the enemy!
Thank you kindly Bart ! I really appreciate it. Kind Regards, Vicky
That means that Rice can only visit after Israel and AIPAC sign off. Not that her visit would mean anything. It's hard to think of a more ineffectual secretary of state.
Really Mr. President, do you think the Iranians and Syrians are being unhelpful? Well, isn't that news.
You said noble move, your killers, that called IDF are telling civiliance to leave the villages just to bomb them in their way out, did you know that? Did you know that they bomed a minibus with 17 children in it and burn them alive? How you said, noble move, HAHAHA, you jews, sometimes make me lought. By the way, why you are living in Sydney and more israeli as they are? Why dont you live in "Israel" or just out of fair to end up in the sea on day?
Really detest the lies and spin on what's happening here. Hizbollah kills & captures Israeli soldiers (must be a dumb lot). What does Israel do? It kills lebanase civilians. It destroys infrastructure. From 30,000 ft above. Way to go, guys. Why can't you kill Hizbollahians? Because they have guns? and can shoot back? What a bunch of pussies
Israel thinks this will end with the Lebanese people kicking Hezbollah out because they are tired of Hezb. dragging them into trouble. Israel thinks they can bomb Hezbollah into giving their soldiers back. But the US is playing the situation towards their own gains instead. Bush will use this to target Syria and Iran. This will take pressure off of Lebanon (which is already succeeding). Lebanon will increasingly be seen as the victim and the world will demand it's protection. Israel will not figure this out until too late. The international community will send in troops to protect Lebanon. The Lebanese people will be powerless to combat either Hezb. or the international community. Hezb. will go underground but continue to hit Israel using the UN/EU forces as their new human shield. The Hezb. leaders who control the soldiers will relax far from the IDF bombs and they will not give back the soldiers until Israel releases prisoners. Cease-fire NOW before it is too late!
Where have all the joyous giver of sweets on the streets in Lebanon gone? Where are all the revelers at? It's gone very quiet there and it's only been a week! By the way, anyone hear from the mullah from hesbullah? What's his name? Nasrallah? Jo Witness
and what is Bush doing exactly to stabilize the region?
Israel must be on the war footing, preparing for a war with Iran. Must use this as a further escalation and preparing the real war that is with Iran. Iran the bastion of Islamo-fascism is an ideology that cannot be appeased and can only be destroyed. The ideology is a hybrid of Nazi-stalinist with a religous twist making it the lethal. Victory what ever the cost maybe, however long and hard it will be. For without victory there is no survival.
No thank you. You keep them. they are the fruits of your work!!!!
here you go Vicky http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/article1183388.ece
It is exactly people like you and the brilliant Mr. Perle on this side of the fence who feed the radicals on the other side. You will not win in a war. There are no winners in wars, only dummies bragging about the destruction. If you have not learned that in the past 40 years you are hopeless. Perle has learned some things, have you read any of his more recent comments????
"The president believes that at this point President Assad is not doing what he can to create stability, which would be to stop housing terrorist organizations and providing safe haven for them and permitting people to conduct terrorist operations or at least planning on his soil" - White House A very blind statement by the US. I am worried about Dumbya's self-centeredness. Of course Syria is acting. It does all it can to remind everybody that they have a gripe with Israel. They want the Golan back, which they are unable to get by military means. Syria's lever is Hizballah. Israel actually knows that the key to peace on the Lebanon border is peace with Syria (and Lebanon thrown in too). Syria was forced by international pressure to get all the Palestinian militants out of their own territory. They only keep "political" people, which is more acceptable. (Don't worry about the militants. They got nice accomodations in southern Lebanon, under Hizballah protection.)
People in the west have developed quite an ability to ignore the suffering of anyone not perceived as white. Israelis are perceived as white, therefore they care about Israeli suffering. Arabs aren't perceived as white, therefore nobody cares much about their suffering. However, suddenly western TV screens are full of westerners fleeing IDF and IAF caused havoc and destruction. Even Fox News is full of Americans rescued. The trouble for Israel is that fleeing western civilians destroy any lingering perception in the west that innocent civilians in Lebanon are safe from the Israeli onslaught.
All made much worse by the airing of their conversation the other day. -Mark Lincoln Hello Mr. Lincoln, In what channel was their conversation aired? Would you be so kind as to post link if it was on a newspaper. I thank you.
The French and the Russians have expressed an interest. What many envision is not UN Peacekeepers, but something more like what NATO is doing in Bosnia. Put in the French Foreign Legion and a Russian Motor Rifle Regiment with the right kind of PeaceMAKING mandate and the story will be different. Of course, the IDF won't be happy. They and the IAF will have to stay in the Israeli side of the border.
Surely the Israeli Government would never be so desperate as to talk with Tony Blair? He should stay home and tend to his personal mishaps and try to bolster his image elsewhere. He is about as welcomed in Israel as what we are dealing with!
oi. have we forgotten history already. we had UN international forces in Sinai before Egypt threatened to destroy Israel in 67. When Egypt told them to leave, they left and the international pledge to create a buffer zone also went out the window. What if Hezzbolah launches a missle from behind the skirts of an international force. Isreal would then run the risk of harming an international soldier to take out the Hezzbolah terrorist. From both the perspective of history and strategy, have an international force in Lebanon is a ridiculoous idea. The best although not the desired course of action is to absolutely destroy Hezbollah so that moderate voices can take control of Hezbollah. Send Hezzbolahnicks to Iran
Tony Blair, on the verge of a no confidence vote, and under criminal investigation for selling honors, now finds himself with home coming Britons who's "local human interest stories" are creating new headaches for Bush's pet boy Tony Blair. All made much worse by the airing of their conversation the other day. Please have mercy on poor Tony Blair. The political grave he has dug for himself is so deep that he can only hope to ever see light if folks forget his role in the last 5 years. Suddenly, he's for peace and diplomacy. Anything to avoid jail.
The British are sending their warships to pick up their refugee citizens in Lebanon. They're whining that Israel doesn't allow them as much time as they want to board their passengers. Knowing some UK diplomats and their sympathies (see BBC leader today) they would tell Hizb they've got enough time to ferry in new supplies and fuel if we extended the time for them. Do they wonder we don't trust them?
The UK has time and time again condemned and criticised Israel - Jack Straw the notorious antisemite raged every time Israel tried to defend herself. I say let's ignore him - yes, the UK participated in Iraq but behind it all is their agenda of constraining and limiting the US and Israel. With friends like the perfidious Brits, who needs enemies?
I read your comment and wondered why do you have so much hate in your heart to those innocent Lebanese civilians. You know as much as we do that the Lebanese gov is so helpless in stopping the Hizbollah attacks, yet Israel insists on destroying this country. A lot of us want peace with Israel. Please have some compassion, we all have the right to coexit. I live in Sydney, maybe we should talk more.
Rice is not comming to stop the crisis. It is here to make sure no one else does. Mark my words. Things will worsen after her visit.
Its very noble of our armed forces to warn the southern Lebanese civilians that they are about to be bombed. But such sentiment falls on people that do not deal with us in the same fashion. If the hezballah want to hide in civilian townships with the consent of the civilians, then they should know that their complicity has a cost. The ground there should be carpeted with our bombs to the point that the trees will be scared to grow.
Richard Perle once said, when asked what was the "carrot" of a certain diplomatic deal: "The carrot is that we won't use the stick!" THIS should be Dichter's negotiating stance, NOT talk of a prisoner 'exchange.'
Why reveal your hand. Keep them guessing so they don't know which way to turn . Also less speculative information on negotiations would assist a speedier outcome.