G8 leaders line up behind Israeli aggression in Lebanon and Gaza

“These extremist elements and those that support them cannot be allowed to plunge the Middle East into chaos,” it read, affirming Israel’s right to “defend itself” and only then making a perfunctory appeal for Tel Aviv to exercise “utmost restraint.”

The statement is a rejection of calls for a cease-fire in Lebanon and gives the green light for continued Israeli aggression both there and in Gaza. It reiterates the Israeli claim that its efforts to destroy the Palestinian Authority and crush all resistance in Lebanon is motivated by a desire to secure the release of the three Israeli soldiers captured, one by Hamas and two by Hezbollah.

Only with the soldiers’ release and the cessation of all Hezbollah attacks on Israel would the conflict end, the G8 said.

The statement was issued as Israel was preparing a major escalation of its attack on Lebanon, possibly including a ground invasion. Israeli jets have been targeting Lebanon since Wednesday, killing more than 100 people.

After rockets fired by Hezbollah killed at least 8 people and wounded some 50 others in the coastal Israeli city of Haifa yesterday, the head of Israel’s northern command Major General Udi Adam warned, “In two or three hours we are going to attack the south of Lebanon heavily.”

The Israeli military has advised residents in southern Lebanon to leave immediately, and Defence Minister Amir Peretz has declared martial law throughout the north of Israel.

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http://wsws.org/articles/2006/jul2006/leba-j17.shtml