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Bush, Merkel Defend Israeli Response to Attacks

On a state visit to Germany, U.S. President George W. Bush defended Israel?s right to take action against Lebanon, but warned against the Jewish state unwisely weakening the government. Both President Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were firm in supporting Israel?s actions in response to what Jerusalem called an ?act of war? committed by Lebanon against Israel, and their support ? cautionary as it was ? stood in marked contrast to the condemnations issued by Paris and Moscow.

According to news agencies, President Bush said that ?Israel has the right to defend herself,? but added that ??whatever Israel does should not weaken the...government in Lebanon.? And even as Russia sharply criticized Israel?s actions in Lebanon, which have killed civilians, Bush brought up the point that Russia has made a worrying backtrack from democracy. ?I think our job is to continue to remind Russia if she wants to continue to have good relations she needs to share common values,? Bush said.

Russian anti-terrorist actions in Chechnya have killed thousands of civilians, in stark contrast to Israel?s warnings to civilians to leave certain terrorist-infested areas. For its part, Hezbollah, the terror group which sparked the recent crisis and military response of Israel, read an announcement on TV which stated that ?it will quickly shell the city of Haifa and nearby areas if the southern suburbs and the city of Beirut are subjected to any direct Israeli aggression?.