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Rice Calls for Lebanon-Israel Cease-Fire when Conditions Permit

18 July 2006

U.S. says resolution of crisis depends on Iran, Syria, Hizballah

By Anita N. Wadhwani
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- With ongoing attacks between the Israeli military and Lebanon-based militant group Hizballah intensifying, Bush administration officials said action by three parties – Iran, Syria and Hizballah – is key to resolving the crisis.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters July 18 that “a cease-fire is imperative and we have to keep working to reach that objective.”  When asked if a cease-fire should take effect immediately, Rice responded, “We all agree that it should happen as soon as possible when conditions are conducive to do so.”

President Bush told reporters that the leaders of the G8 reached “a very strong consensus that the world must confront the root causes of the current instability.  And the root cause of that current instability is terrorism and terrorist attacks on a democratic country.  And part of those terrorist attacks are inspired by nation states, like Syria and Iran.  And in order to be able to deal with this crisis, the world must deal with Hizballah, with Syria and to continue to work to isolate Iran.”

“A cease-fire that would leave intact a terrorist infrastructure is unacceptable,” White House press secretary Tony Snow told journalists July 18. “So what we're trying to do is work as best we can toward a cease-fire that is going to create not only the conditions, but the institutions for peace and democracy in the region.”

He said that Iran and Syria hold tremendous sway over Hizballah and should use their influence to persuade the group to stop firing at Israel.

Snow said that President Bush feels Syrian President Bashar Assad “is not doing what he can to create the conditions for stability,” which Snow said would include, “stop housing terrorist organizations and providing safe haven for them, and permitting people to conduct terrorist operations, or at least planning, on his soil.”

Bush speculated that Syria might be trying to reassert its influence in Lebanon.  Syrian troops were forced from Lebanon in 2005 following an international outcry over Syria’s suspected involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Bush said it is in the interest of the international community for Syria to stay out of Lebanon and for the Lebanese government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora to survive.

Snow called for an end to Hizballah’s provocation of Israel and full compliance with U.N. Security Council resolutions on Lebanon. “What we would like to see happen is the [Israeli] soldiers returned, the rocket firing stopped, and at that point try to go back to U.N. Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1680; 1559 calls for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon, for disbanding of all militias and for the effective control by the elected government of Lebanon over all its territory,” he said.

Addressing concerns over Lebanon’s weak government, Snow added that additional steps would involve providing the Lebanese government enough security so it effectively can lead its country.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)