Bush asks Israel not to disrupt Beirut

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STRALSUND, Germany -- President Bush yesterday urged Israel not to destabilize the pro-Western government in Beirut, even as he acknowledged the nation's right to defend itself after Lebanon-based Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers.

Mr. Bush said that the missile attacks and kidnapping of Israeli soldiers by the Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah are clearly aimed at blocking efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.

"It's really sad where people are willing to take innocent life to stop that process. Matter of fact, it's pathetic," the president said during a visit to Germany ahead of the Group of Eight summit that begins in Russia today.

"My biggest concern is whether or not actions taken [by Israel] will weaken the Siniora government," Mr. Bush said, referring to Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora. "Democracy in Lebanon is an important part of laying a foundation for peace in that region."

Mr. Bush issued his warning yesterday after meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in this Baltic Sea city. The chancellor supported Mr. Bush and also put the blame squarely on terrorist groups that have launched missile attacks on Israel and killed and kidnapped Israeli soldiers.

"We need to remind all of us again how this escalation started, with the kidnapping of a soldier, through rockets -- for the firing of missiles against Israeli territory. And we can only urge all parties, appeal to all parties to stop, to cease violence and to also release the kidnapped soldier, and to stop this firing of missiles at Israeli territory," Mrs. Merkel said.

"The attacks did not start from the Israeli side, but from Hezbollah's side," she said. "We call on the powers in the region to seek to bring about a de-escalation of the situation."

The president spoke as Israel imposed a naval blockade on Lebanon, bombed Beirut's international airport twice and targeted two Lebanese military bases near the Syrian border.

Hezbollah, which operates from southern Lebanon, fired more than 100 rockets into Israel, which said one of the missiles hit the port city of Haifa.

At least 57 persons on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border have been killed, including a Lebanese family of 10 and two Israelis yesterday, the Associated Press reported.