Israel using 'excessive force'

2006-07-25 08:03

London - Sixty-one percent of Britons believe that Israel is using excessive force in Lebanon to root out the Shi'ite Muslim militia Hezbollah, a poll published in Tuesday's Guardian newspaper revealed.

Only 22% of those polled said they thought Israel's military response to the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah on July 12 was "proportionate".

Thirty percent said they agreed with the position of Prime Minister Tony Blair who has aligned himself with the United States in refusing to condemn the military strikes, insisting that Israel has the right to defend itself.

But 63% of respondents said the "special relationship" between Britain and the United States had gone too far. Britain is the United States' closest ally.

The survey of 1 001 adults was carried out by the ICM institute between July 21 and 23.

- AFP