UK minister downplays criticism of Israel

By Paul Tate

Amman — British Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East Kim Howells on Monday played down earlier remarks criticising Israel’s “disproportionate use of force” in Lebanon, instead placing the blame for the current conflict firmly on Hizbollah.

“It’s easy for me to say the response was disproportionate but I am not one of those people in Haifa having their legs blown apart by Hizbollah missiles, Howells told a press conference at the British ambassador’s residence here.

Earlier yesterday, Howells met with HRH Prince Feisal, the Regent, Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib to discuss the escalating crisis amid a flurry of diplomatic activity in the region.

“We sought from the Jordanians their insight into the way Syria is behaving and the links between Iran, Syria and Hizbollah,” he said. He did not elaborate further.

On Friday during a visit to Beirut, Howells dramatically broke ranks with his government’s so far uncritical support of Israel by calling into question the Jewish state’s military tactics.

“These have not been surgical strikes. And it’s very, very difficult I think to understand the kind of military tactics that have been used, “ he said, referring to the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon.

Yesterday, however, the minister emphasised the need to protect Israel’s security and voiced Britain’s firm support for the US position that a ceasefire would not be appropriate without the necessary political framework in place and a stabilisation force set up.

“We are committed to bringing this conflict to a close, but it is no good to have a gesture and the violence stops and then Hizbollah using it as a claim of victory or to rearm itself and replenish its resources,” said the diplomat.

“That is not the way to form a sustainable peace,” he added.

Howells did not give any details on what form any possible stabilisation force would take.

“There are no easy decisions about an intervention force... what will be its rules of engagement? And most importantly it has to be a force that has the agreement of the Lebanese government,” he said.

Howells’ trip has so far taken him to Beirut, Cyprus, Tel Aviv and parts of the occupied Palestinian territories, but not Syria, viewed by many as the key player in brokering any possible ceasefire.

“There are great suspicions about the Syrians. Why are they playing this role? Why are they being the bankers and armours of Hizbollah,” he said, adding that it was incumbent upon them to show transparency and honesty.

The US has so far refused to talk to Syria, which it lists as a state sponsor of terror and Howells indicated that a British delegation may not have been welcomed in Damascus.

“I am not sure that the Syrians would have welcomed a visit... but we have engaged very closely through our ambassador in Damascus,” said the minister.

“I have no doubt that the Syrians have a part to play and they will have a part to play,” he added.

Howells said the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559 and the disarming of Hizbollah is the key to stability in Lebanon.

“You cannot have within a state two spokespersons speaking on behalf of the people and two sets of guns. You can only have one, and that has got to be the democratically elected government,” he said.



Tuesday, July 25, 2006