More News About The Middle East

Well, last night it was said that Israelis were bemoaning their "defeat", but today, along with Hezbollah, they are claiming to be the victors.

Well, we certainly know whom the victims were in all of this fighting: the Lebanese people.

Peretz: We should create conditions for talks with Syria

Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Tuesday that a resumption of talks with Syria was still possible, a day after a cease-fire brought to an end the month-long conflict with the Syrian-backed Hezbollah organization in Lebanon.

"Every war creates an opportunity for a new political process. and I am sure that our enemies understand today they cannot defeat us by force," Peretz said.

"We must hold a dialogue with Lebanon, and we should create the conditions for dialogue also with Syria," he added.

Iran: Victory celebrations, threats to Israel

Already Monday night thousands of Iranians took to the streets in celebration of what they defined as a Shiite and Hizbullah victory over the Zionist regime. In the streets of Iran , believers took advantage of the evening prayers to praise the Lebanese nation on Hizbullah's victory.


In parades toward the mosques calling "Allah is great, Khamenei is the leader," "Lebanon won with Hizbullah's help," Lebanon is victorious, Israel is destroyed," and "Hizbullah finally won." The daily internet newspaper Rooz Online, run by exiled Iranians, added that the marchers waived flags of Hizbullah and handed out miniature flags to children.

And you just know that Bush can't be too happy about this.

Bush calls for sealing of Syria's borders

In a joint appearance with Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Bush stated that the administration is now operating a war on terror on three fronts: Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon. The president is hopeful that a UN Security Council resolution, calling for international troops to help the Lebanese central government gain control of Hezbollah-dominated areas, will take this over on this new "front".

However, Bush also asserted his belief that Hezbollah has been armed by Iran, with weapons passing through Syria. "I know they claim they didn't have anything to do with it," the President told reporters, "but sophisticated weaponry ended up in the hands of Hezbollah fighters, and many assume and many believe that that weaponry came from Iran through Syria."

The United States and ally nations plan to call for UN troops to seal off Syrian borders and ports soon after the Hezbollah resolution is considered.

See what I mean?