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Bush speaks out on Israel crisis
13/07/2006 13:39 - (SA)
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| Members of Greenpeace unfurl an anti-Bush banner under a bridge in Stralsund, northern Germany. (Thomas Haentzschel, AP) |
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Rostock - US President George W Bush blamed Hezbollah and Hamas on Thursday for escalating Middle East violence but warned Israel against undermining Lebanon's fragile democracy.
Breaking his silence on the fiercest Israel-Lebanon clashes in a decade, Bush insisted that Israel "has the right to defend herself" but urged restraint after its forces pounded Palestinian and Lebanese targets.
"My biggest concern is whether or not actions taken will weaken the Siniora government," he said, referring to Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.
"Democracy in Lebanon is an important part of laying a foundation for peace in that region. We have worked really hard to get Syria out of Lebanon."
Hezbollah, Hamas 'don't want peace'
Bush accused Hezbollah and Hamas of trying to derail efforts to bring peace to the Middle East by creating independent Palestinian state living side-by-side with Israel.
"It's really sad where people are willing to take innocent life to stop that process. Matter of fact, it's pathetic," said Bush, who has refused to recognise the Palestinian government led by Hamas.
"Hezbollah doesn't want there to be peace, the militant arm of Hamas doesn't want there to be peace, and those of us who do want peace will continue to work together to encourage peace," Bush said.
"There are a group of terrorists who want to stop the advance of peace, and those of us who are peace-loving must work together to help the agents of peace," he said.
"Things looked positive, and terrorists stepped up."
Bush said US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice was in active telephone diplomacy to try to calm the situation, and added: "I'll be making calls" as well.
'Syria needs to be held to account'
The US president said Damascus, a patron of Hezbollah, must pressure the Lebanese militia to free captured Israeli soldiers.
"Syria needs to be held to account" over a dramatic escalation of violence in the Middle East," Bush said after meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"President Assad needs to show some leadership towards peace."
US-German friendship summit
Bush and Merkel were at a summit celebrating US-German friendship in the picturesque Baltic city of Stalsund.
"I bring a message from the American people: We're honoured to call the German people friends and allies," the US president said in remarks on the Old Market Square.
"America and Germany stand side by side."
"We share common values and common interests. We want to work together to keep the peace. We want to work together to promote freedom. There's so much we can do, working together," said Bush.
Bush mimes eating fish
On arriving in Stralsund, Bush kissed a beaming Merkel on both cheeks, shook hands with smiling Germans in the crowd, then accepted a small ceremonial barrel of herring and jokingly mimed eating one of the fish.
"This is a very good opportunity, indeed, to say a word of thanks," said Merkel, who has increasingly emerged as a strong US ally.
"We owe you a big debt of gratitude for being able to finally live within one country in peace and freedom; one country - Germany."
- AFP
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