Bush backs Israel at divided G8

BBC News ^ | July 16, 2006

[West Coast Conservative]

The US president, in St Petersburg for the G8 summit, has insisted Israel is defending itself against terror and Hezbollah is the root of the crisis.

George W Bush added that the Israelis had to be mindful of the consequences of their actions, as fresh air strikes and rocket attacks were reported.

French President Jacques Chirac spoke out in defence of Lebanon.

The leaders of the world's eight top economic powers have begun working meetings focusing on energy supplies.

With global energy use likely to increase by 50% in the next 25 years, Russian President Vladimir Putin is keen to convince other G8 members his country can be relied on as a supplier.

But Russia's G8 agenda has already been overtaken by events in the Middle East, the BBC's Steve Rosenberg reports.

With eight of the world's most powerful leaders meeting for talks, he says, they are under pressure to find a way to end the hostilities.

Divisions

"As a sovereign nation, Israel has every right to defend itself against terrorist activity," Mr Bush said after bilateral talks with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair on Sunday.

"Our message to Israel is defend yourself but be mindful of the consequences."

The root cause of the conflict, he added, was Hezbollah and its ties with Syria and Iran.

Hezbollah, he said, "was the start of this".

Speaking before the first summit working meeting of the day, France's president said that forces "who jeopardise the security, stability and sovereignty of Lebanon must be stopped".

He urged "the protection of civilians, moderation and a durable ceasefire" in both Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

Our correspondent notes that working out a common G8 position on the crisis will not be easy with a clear division emerging between the US on one hand, and France and Russia on the other.

President Putin has suggested Israel has ulterior motives in Lebanon rather than simply the return of abducted soldiers.

"We condemn any terrorist act including hostage-taking but we have the impression that besides the return of its abducted soldiers, Israel is pursuing other, wider goals," he said on Saturday.

[upchuck]

French President Jacques Chirac spoke out in defence of Lebanon.

There they go again. The LSM cluttering up their reporting with known FACTS.

[Just Lori]

"We condemn any terrorist act including hostage-taking but we have the impression that besides the return of its abducted soldiers, Israel is pursuing other, wider goals," he said on Saturday.

Let's hope so!

[brain bleeds red]

French President Jacques Chirac spoke out in defence of Lebanon.

Uhh, Jacque, it's Hezbollah getting attacked. Is that who you're speaking in defense of?

[Cinnamon]

"French President Jacques Chirac spoke out in defence of Lebanon."

Well, that was the surprise of the evening at the summit...

[PattonFan]

But Russia's G8 agenda has already been overtaken by events in the Middle East, the BBC's Steve Rosenberg reports

One would hope that the prospect of Global War, might take precedent over Russia wanting to sell a bit of oil...

[JLAGRAYFOX]

The G8 "Russian" conferenece is a failure. GW Bush should pack up and go home!!!

[Pride in the USA]

Russia and France live in a fantasy world of their own creation. They could not be more anti-Semitic if they tried. A country the size of a postage stamp, when compared to any other Middle East country, is the the aggressor? Here are a few facts worth noting:

"The Arab nations are represented by 21 separate countries. There is only one Jewish nation with a tiny country, Israel. The combined territories of Arab countries is 650 fold greater than Israel.

The Arab nations initiated four wars against Israel:

1948 War of Independence
1956 Sinai War
1967 Six Day War
1973 Yom Kippur War

Israel defended itself each time and won. After each war Israeli army withdrew from most of the areas it captured. This is unprecedented in World history and shows Israel's willingness to reach peace even at the risk of fighting for its very existence each time anew."

From the Israel Science and Technology Directory

[Steely Tom]

If the conference wasn't divided, the MSM wouldn't be covering it.

And vice versa, probably.

[The_Pickle]

"We condemn any terrorist act including hostage-taking but we have the impression that besides the return of its abducted soldiers, Israel is pursuing other, wider goals," he said on Saturday.

Let's hope so!

Hmm could it be that their "wider goals" might just be protecting their nation and citizens from further terrorist attacks?

[bnelson44]

Middle East 

St. Petersburg, July 16, 2006

Today, we the G-8 Leaders express our deepening concern about the situation in the Middle East, in particular the rising civilian casualties on all sides and the damage to infrastructure. We are united in our determination to pursue efforts to restore peace. We offer our full support for the UN Secretary General's mission presently in the region.

The root cause of the problems in the region is the absence of a comprehensive Middle East peace.

The immediate crisis results from efforts by extremist forces to destabilize the region and to frustrate the aspirations of the Palestinian, Israeli and Lebanese people for democracy and peace.  In Gaza, elements of Hamas launched rocket attacks against Israeli territory and abducted an Israeli soldier.  In Lebanon, Hizbollah, in violation of the Blue Line, attacked Israel from Lebanese territory and killed and captured Israeli soldiers, reversing the positive trends that began with the Syrian withdrawal in 2005, and  undermining the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora. 

These extremist elements and those that support them cannot be allowed to plunge the Middle East into chaos and provoke a wider conflict.  The extremists must immediately halt their attacks.

It is also critical that Israel, while exercising the right to defend itself, be mindful of the strategic and humanitarian consequences of its actions.  We call upon Israel to exercise utmost restraint, seeking to avoid casualties among innocent civilians and damage to civilian infrastructure and to refrain from acts that would destabilize the Lebanese government.

The most urgent priority is to create conditions for a cessation of violence that will be sustainable and lay the foundation for a more permanent solution.  This, in our judgment, requires:

• - The return of the Israeli soldiers in Gaza and Lebanon unharmed;
• - An end to the shelling of Israeli territory;
• - An end to Israeli military operations and the early withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza;
• - The release of the arrested Palestinian ministers and parliamentarians.

The framework for resolving these disputes is already established by international consensus.

In Lebanon, UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1680 address the underlying conditions that gave rise to this crisis. We urge the UN Security Council to develop a plan for the full implementation of these resolutions.

We extend to the Government of Lebanon our full support in asserting its sovereign authority over all its territory in fulfillment of UNSCR 1559.  This includes the deployment of Lebanese Armed Forces to all parts of the country, in particular the South, and the disarming of militias. We would welcome an examination by the UN Security Council of the possibility of an international security/monitoring presence.

We also support the initiation of a political dialogue between Lebanese and Israeli officials on all issues of concern to both parties. In addition, we will support the economic and humanitarian needs of the Lebanese people, including the convening at the right time of a donors conference. 

In Gaza, the disengagement of Israel provided an opportunity to move a further step toward a two state solution under the Road Map.  All Palestinian parties should accept the existence of Israel, reject violence, and accept all previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap.  For its part, Israel needs to refrain from unilateral acts that could prejudice a final settlement and agree to negotiate in good faith.

Our goal is an immediate end to the current violence, a resumption of security cooperation and of a political engagement both among Palestinians and with Israel.  This requires:

- An end to terrorist attacks against Israel;

- A resumption of the efforts of President Abbas to ensure that the Palestinian government complies with the Quartet principles;

- Immediate expansion of the temporary international mechanism for donors established under the direction of the Quartet;

-  Israeli compliance with the Agreement on Movement and Access of November 2005 and action on other steps to ease the humanitarian plight of the people of Gaza and the West Bank;

- Resumption of security cooperation between Palestinians and Israelis;

- Action to ensure that the Palestinian security forces comply with Palestinian law and with the Roadmap, so that they are unified and effective in providing security for the Palestinian people;

- Resumption of dialogue between Palestinian and Israeli political officials.

These proposals are our contribution to the international effort underway to restore calm to the Middle East and provide a basis for progress towards a sustainable peace, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.  The Quartet will continue to play a central role.  The G-8 welcomes the positive efforts of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan as well as other responsible regional actors to return the region to peace.  We look forward to the report of the Secretary General's mission to the Security Council later this week which we believe could provide a framework for achieving our common objectives.

[sgtbono2002]

How long does this clown Chirac get to stay in office.?

He cant tell his head from the hole in his rear.

[keats5]

Unfortunately, Iran has successfully changed the agenda of the G8 Summit. I wish Bush would reintroduce the original agenda- Iran's nuclear ambitions.

[claudiustg]

This whole thing is a complete fantasy! How many Jews have to die before the G-8 can acknowledge the reality of the situation?

[Tolik]

"We condemn any terrorist act including hostage-taking but we have the impression that besides the return of its abducted soldiers, Israel is pursuing other, wider goals," Putin said on Saturday.

Of course, and there is nothing wrong in trying to dismantle Hezbollah and Hamas. With that they'd do the right thing for themselves and a great favor to the world.

[backtothestreets]

Too bad most people can't think for themselves. If they could, they would know with absolute certainty Israel now has motive beyond the return of the abducted soldiers.

Starting with this news item. Half of the G-8 member nations are major European industrial nations, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Despite their geographical vulnerability, they have shown themselves as weak in addressing the nuclear ambitions of Iran.

Iran and Syria have the mercenary army Hezbollah operating freely inside Lebanon.  This army is not just well manned due to financial and logistical support from Iran and Syria.  The army is also well armed with advanced weaponry capable of striking Israel from a distance.  The primary rocket used by Hezbollah is the Katyushas rocket manufactured in Russia, purchased with Iranian financing, and smuggled into Lebanon through Syria.

Exporting military weapons is a major component of the Russian economy.  Russian President Putin should be expected to chide nations at odds with their military customers.

The four European members of the G-8 and Japan joined in the weak condemnation of the mercenary army Hezbollah as they are reliant on Iranian oil output.  The United States is also indirectly reliant on Iranian oil output to keep record world oil prices from soaring much higher.  In an effort to save face with Iran in exchange for the continued oil output, the condemnation included Israel.

The combination of Iran providing rockets via Syria to a mercenary army capable of striking within Israel, and Iran continuing to develop a nuclear capability does without a doubt indicate Iran will have the capability to provide nuclear armed warheads poised to strike Israel in the foreseeable future.  These are not long range rockets, hence a reason the European powers have a false sense of security.  They refuse to foresee the day when Iran can combine rocket and nuclear science to strike against all of Europe.

Everyone needs to refresh their memories of how our nation reacted when a nation within 100 miles of our nation was supplied with rockets by a third nation, capable of striking us.  Israel is in an identical situation right now.  Israel has no option but to have the threat of the short range rockets removed now, before Iran can supply a nuclear capability.  As Iran increases their rocket range capabilities, the threat will continue to exceed the 100+ mile range, and at some not so distant point in the future, Iran will attack Israel directly, or indirectly as the Hezbollah have demonstrated.

And all the leaders of the world had better awaken and realize Iran is the major disruptive, and most dangerous nation on the earth right now.

[kcvl]

G8 calls on Hizbollah to end attacks
Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:21pm ET254

By Steve Holland and Jeff Mason

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Group of Eight leaders on Sunday blamed extremists for an upsurge of Middle East violence and while accepting Israel's right to defend itself said the Jewish state should exercise "utmost restraint".

Setting out conditions for an end to violence, G8 leaders in summit talks in Russia put the onus on Hizbollah militants to restore peace by releasing abducted Israelis and ending attacks on Israel.

Then the Israeli offensive against Lebanon could end, said the statement.

"These extremist elements and those that support them cannot be allowed to plunge the Middle East into chaos," said the text hammered out by the leaders of the world's richest nations.


http://tinyurl.com/jhp8w


"We demand first that the Israeli soldiers be returned to Israel healthy, that the attacks on Israel cease, and then naturally for Israel to halt military action," German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters.

[pleikumud]

Hezbollah and Hamas are terrorist organizations, so killing all their members is necessary to win the war on terror. The U.S. should help Israel do this.

[ArGee]

Speaking before the first summit working meeting of the day, France's president said that forces "who jeopardise the security, stability and sovereignty of Lebanon must be stopped".

I presume that France's president knows these forces are Syria and Iran. If France wants to stop them then President Bush should offer his full and complete support.

The French would deserve us letting them go it alone, but this is not the time to pay them back.

What? You think Chirac was talking about Israel? Don't be stupid.

Shalom.

[topazbeth]

Obviously, more than 6 million. The Islamists will never be satisfied until every single Jew is dead. Like someone said today, If there were only 10 Jews left and they were on a boat off the coast of Haifa, the Islamofascists would be crying victim until the 10 Jews stopped occupying the boat. (Told by an Israeli.)