Howells slams Israeli attacks
Foreign Office minister Kim Howells has criticised Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon, in the strongest condemnation of the Israeli offensive made so far by a British official.
Speaking yesterday from the Lebanese capital, Beirut, Mr Howells said Israel’s attacks against the militant group Hizbullah were not “surgical strikes”, stressing that the military offensive was killing a number of ordinary people and destroying Lebanon’s infrastructure.
“I very much hope that the Americans understand what’s happening to Lebanon,” said Mr Howells, who was paying a visit to one of the last ships to evacuate Britons from the region, with some 4,400 people now having been transported to safety by the UK.
“The destruction of the infrastructure, the death of so many children and so many people. These have not been surgical strikes,” he added.
The Foreign Office minister, who is known for being outspoken, said that it was “very difficult” to understand the “kind of military tactics” used by Israel.
“You know, if they’re chasing Hizbollah, then go for Hizbollah. You don’t go for the entire Lebanese nation,” concluded Mr Howells, who will meet with the Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, later today.
But supporting the government’s stance against calling for an immediate end to hostilities between Israel and Hizbullah, he stressed that joining other parts of the international community in pressing for a quick ceasefire would represent a “meaningless gesture”.
His comments came in response to earlier criticisms made by former cabinet minister Clare Short, who accused Britain and the US of giving Israel the “green light” to inflict maximum damage on Lebanon.
In contrast to the UN and many European countries, both nations have rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire in the region, stressing the need to achieve sustainable peace in the Middle East.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague acknowledged that calls for an unconditional Israeli ceasefire were “futile” unless Hizbollah rocket attacks against the Jewish state ceased and the two Israeli soldiers captured by insurgents 11 days ago were released.
But he added that Israel’s response to the attacks had been “disproportionate” and was delaying efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, Mike Moore, described Mr Howells’ suggestion that calling for an immediate ceasefire in the region would be meaningless, as “extraordinary”.
He added that the minister’s comments had “drawn attention to the degree of isolation of Britain and US from most of the rest of world opinion”.
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