G-8 Summit Watch: G-8 World Leaders Demand Halt to Middle East Attacks
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, center left, Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, center right, and Finland’s Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, left, walk with other G8 Summit participants on their way for the official photo session at Constantine Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, July 16, 2006.
AP: G-8 leaders demand halt to Mideast attacks
World leaders, managing to resolve sharp differences over an escalating crisis between Israel and Lebanon, declared Sunday that extremist groups in the region cannot be allowed to plunge the Middle East into chaos and must immediately halt their attacks.
The leaders of the world’s eight industrial powers issued a strong statement condemning Hezbollah militants but also urged Israel to exercise restraint in its military actions against Lebanon.
The statement said it was critical for Israel to “be mindful of the strategic and humanitarian consequences of its actions.” It called on Israel “to exercise utmost restraint” by seeking to avoid casualties among innocent civilians and damage to civilian infrastructure.
“It is a strong message with a clear political content,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters.
The statement called for two captured Israeli soldiers to be freed, for the attacks on Israel by Hezbollah militants to stop and for Israel to end its military action. It also expressed support for the Lebanese government.
Easy for the G-8 to issue statements than exert real diplomacy to defuse a tense situation before the real fighting started. But, the G-8 must recognize that Hezbollah, Hamas, Syria and Iran WANT a war with Israel.
And this is what they are receiving….
Israel will not stop the hostilities until Hezbollah and Hamas are no longer terrorist or military threats to Israel. If Syria and Iran join the war, then the United States should militarily aid Israel.
Blogosphere:
Michelle Malkin has a great listing of links to keep informed on the Israel-Hezbollah War.
The J-blogosphere blog is a central location for those liveblogging the war around Israel. Truth Laid Bear’s excellent Mideast Crisis tracking page is a must-bookmark. Pajamas Media has a breaking news mega-round-up.
Joel Mowbray continues his reports from Israel for Power Line.
Allah is your first and last stop for news on the latest developments.
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