Israel Matzav

Misdirected tears

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora broke down in tears twice today during a speech to Arab foreign ministers meeting in Beirut. I have no doubt that Siniora's tears were real. But until he recognizes his problem and asks the Arab foreign ministers to help him solve it, nothing will change:

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora broke into tears twice Monday afternoon during his address to Arab foreign ministers in Beirut. Siniora started crying when he spoke about the killed in Lebanon: " We know that we are not the only ones facing this catastrophe, as our brothers in Palestine and Iraq are also suffering under the occupation."

He then turned to the Arab countries for help, and broke into tears once again: "Our 'Arabness' is unconditional. Your support is your duty and responsibility," he stated.

Siniora's address was met with a warm round of applause.

"The Arab future is one future. I'm sure we will all stay united. We need help with construction, economic aid. We need political and diplomatic assistance so that these actions are not repeated," he said.

"We need help in putting an end to this aggression and in enforcing the Lebanese sovereignty all across our territory. We want to salvage the common life in Lebanon. You and us are facing a difficult test by the international community," Siniora declared.

...

"This is the 26th day of the Lebanese holocaust. Israel is committing state terror," he stated, stressing that Lebanon's aim was to reach an immediate ceasefire based on the "Seven Points Plan."

"We need to consolidate a unified Arab stance and push for a different Security Council resolution," he said.

Siniora spoke about the villages and towns hit by Israel air strikes, and mentioned the destruction of infrastructure and "the killing of some 1000 civilians, a third of them under the age of 12. A million people displaced."

"A terrible massacre took place at the village of Houla where more than 40 people were killed as a result of an Israeli bombardment," the PM declared.

Siniora's problem is that instead of insisting that Iran and Syria stop funding and arming Hezbullah - with Syrian foreign minister Farouk Shara undoubtedly sitting right there - he fanned the flames of anti-Israel hatred. Were it not for Hezbullah's presence in Lebanon and use of Lebanese territory as a terror base, this entire war would not have happened. Israel has no claims on Lebanese territory and nothing against the Lebanese people. Until Siniora recognizes those facts and specifically asks the Arab foreign ministers to rid his country of Hezbullah and its influence, nothing will change.

For more on Siniora, go here.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:48 PM