On Hezbollah, Arab League Divided Over Legitimacy of Attacks; Syria Supports
Foreign ministers of 18 Arab countries held an
emergency summit in Cairo on Saturday over Israeli action in Lebanon, but squabbles over the legitimacy of Hezbollah's attacks on
Israel --including the kidnapping of two IDF soldiers-- appeared likely to keep participants
from reaching a consensus, delegates said.
The Saudi foreign
minister appeared to be leading a camp of ministers criticizing the Hezbollah's actions, calling them "unexpected, inappropriate and
irresponsible acts." "These acts will pull the whole region back
to years ago, and we cannot simply accept them," Saudi al-Faisal told
his counterparts. It appeared that Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, the UAE and the Palestinian Authority were in agreement.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid
Moallem, however, lashed back al-Faisal, asking "How can we come here to discuss
the burning situation in Lebanon while others are making statements
criticizing the resistance?" Moallem called Hezbollah's action "legitimate acts in line with international resolutions and the UN
charter, as acts of resistance," delegates said.
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