WASHINGTON — The Bush administration has urged Israel to limit its
military operation in Lebanon.
Officials said the State Department and White House warned Israel
against any attack that could undermine the government of Lebanese Prime
Minister Fuad Siniora. The officials said the fall of the Siniora government could
reverse U.S. efforts to turn Lebanon into an independent country.
"We just continue to ask that the Israelis exercise restraint, be
concerned about civilian casualties, be concerned of course about civilian
infrastructure," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.
Officials said Ms. Rice and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley
urged Israel to avoid targeting civilian areas and enable the operation of
Lebanese border facilities, Middle East Newsline reported. They said Ms. Rice received messages from Saudi
Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council states that expressed concern over
the safety of their nationals in Lebanon.
The administration has sought to bolster the Siniora government and
expand military and security cooperation with Beirut. In June, the White
House pledged to increase aid to Lebanon's military and security forces
despite Beirut's refusal to deploy the army along the southern border with
Israel.
President George Bush expressed concern that Israel's military operation
could weaken the Siniora government. But he reaffirmed Israel's right to
self-defense.
"The concern is that any activities by Israel to protect herself will
weaken that [Siniora] government," Bush said. "And we've made it clear in
our discussions."
On Thursday, two of Bush's envoys -- Assistant Secretary of State David
Welch and Deputy National Security Advisor Elliot Abrams -- met Israeli
Defense Minister Amir Peretz to discuss the Israeli operation in Lebanon.
Officials said the envoys urged Israel to give the international community
an opportunity to defuse the crisis.
On Friday, the United Nations was scheduled to discuss the crisis.
Lebanon has requested the session amid severe criticism of the Israeli
operation by France and Russia.
"We as well as others have been encouraging the government of Lebanon to
work through the political as well as the chain of command issues that they
have with controlling all of their territory," State Department spokesman
Sean McCormack said. "The government of Prime Minister Siniora doesn't
control Hizbullah and their military operations, which is exactly the point
that we as well as the rest of the world have made to them, that Hizbullah
is a direct challenge to Lebanese sovereignty."
