Ariel Sharon can sleep in peace knowing his friend, George Bush is keeping his word:
Bush: By its actions, Hezbollah betrayed the Lebanese people
By Aluf Benn, Shmuel Rosner and Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondents, and Agencies
The United States will urge Middle East leaders to help boost pressure on Hezbollah as a means of solving the crisis in southern Lebanon, President George W. Bush said on Saturday.
The Bush administration has rejected calls for an immediate cease-fire and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who leaves on Sunday for a trip to the region, said she would focus instead on finding a sustainable end to the violence.
Previewing Rice's trip in his weekly radio address, Bush said she would "make it clear that resolving the crisis demands confronting the terrorist group that launched the attacks and the nations that support it."
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Bush cited the role of Iran and Syria in providing help to Hezbollah.
"Their actions threaten the entire Middle East and stand in the way of resolving the current crisis and bringing lasting peace to this troubled region," said Bush, who is spending the weekend at his Crawford ranch.
On Saturday, Bush called Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to discuss the humanitarian needs of the Lebanese people and Rice's trip to the region, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
Bush stood by his stance that Israel had a right to act in its own defense.
The Bush administration has expressed worries the conflict might weaken the fragile government in Lebanon led by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
While reiterating his support for the Lebanese government, Bush laid blame for the problems squarely on Hezbollah.
"Hezbollah's practice of hiding rockets in civilian neighborhoods, and its efforts to undermine the democratically elected government have shown it to be no friend of Lebanon," he said. "By its actions, Hezbollah has jeopardized Lebanon's tremendous advances and betrayed the Lebanese people." |
