US support for Israel cost thousands of lives: Lebanese minister
Lebanon-Israel-USA, Politics, 9/5/2006
Lebanon's Minister of the Environment Yacoub Al-Sarraf yesterday accused the US of being responsible for killing and destroying over a thousand civilian lives in his country.
"I am definitely sure had the Israelis not had the full backing of the US, we would no doubt have saved thousands of lives," the minister said.
"Most Israeli weapons are financed and not only provided by the US," he said. Early intervention by Washington "could have done something to stop the aggression or even to save lives of civilians," he added.
During a visit to London, Sarraf also condemned the Zionist regime for not honoring UN Security Council 1701 following its month-long indiscriminate bombing campaign.
Sarraf is currently in London to attend a meeting in Parliament organized by the Anglo Arab Organization, which aims to promote better understanding and dialogue between Britain and the Arab world.
Other speakers include Syrian Minister of Information Muhsin Bilal.
In an interview with BBC Radio Four's Today program, Sarraf said the most important issue for Lebanon was the urgent implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 by the Israelis, including lifting of its land, air and sea blockade.
"Not only blockade, the whole UN resolution. Hostilities did not end. Withdrawal did not even begin," the Lebanese environment minister said.
He also condemned Israel for having no true intention of restoring peace and suggested that the international community needed to look first at its "assault on humanity and human rights" before developing relations.
"There is no aggression in the world which can justify the ratio of civilian over military casualties of over nine to one," Sharraf said, adding that during their bombing campaign the Israelis "haphazardly" hit hospitals, schools, churches and mosques.
He also said that there was "no doubt" that the Israelis knew what they were doing when they bombed the UN post at Khiyam, killing peacekeepers in July.
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