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.