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Der libanesische Ministerpräsident Fouad Al-Siniora hat ein Treffen mit Condoleezza Rice abgesagt, nachdem im Flüchtlingslager in Qana 56 Menschen durch israelischen Artilleriebeschuss ums Leben kamen. Siniora sagte dazu:

Out of respect for the souls of our innocent martyrs and the remains of our children buried under the rubble of Qana, we scream out to our fellow Lebanese and to the whole world to stand united in the face of the Israeli war criminals.

The persistence of Israel in its heinous crimes against our civilians will not break the will of the Lebanese people.

There is no place on this sad morning for any discussion other than an immediate and unconditional cease-fire as well as an international investigation into the Israeli massacres in Lebanon now.

Israel hat unterdessen einem Aussetzen des Luftangriffe auf den Südlibanon für 48 Stunden zugesagt. Ein Waffenstillstand ist es nicht, die Bodentruppen Israels werden weiterhin ihr Vordrängen in Libanon fortführen. Während der 48 Stunden will Israel den Beschuss der Stadt Qana “untersuchen”.

Ich hatte mich eh’ schon gefragt, warum der libanesische Regierungschef Al-Siniora überhaupt Condi Rice empfangen hatte. Ein offener Brief von Mike Whitney gibt mein Anliegen exakt wieder:

Dear Prime Minister Fouad Siniora,

Perhaps you will be kind enough to answer a few questions regarding the recent visit of United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, so that people around the world who have looked on with sympathy as your country has been ravaged by Israeli aggression can understand your feelings on these important matters.

First of all, why did you allow the Secretary of State to visit Beirut? The Bush administration had already made its position entirely clear and everyone who followed the issue knew that the US would continue to give Israel the “green light” until it finished its military operations according to its original plans.

Were you unaware that Rice had already stated that she was not prepared to offer a “cease fire”?

Why would you allow yourself to be photographed “smiley-faced” and shaking hands with the woman who is destroying your country and killing your people?