Bush So Bent on Israel He Has Amnesia?

Bush: Syria stop Hizbollah attacks

Jul. 15 - U.S. President George W. Bush demanded that Syria rein in Hizbollah attacks on Israel.

At a joint news conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, Bush again declined to urge Israel to curb its attacks on Hizbollah targets in Lebanon, a position at odds with that of French President Jacques Chirac and some other leaders attending the Group of Eight summit.

Bush laid the blame for this week's upsurge in Middle East violence squarely on Hizbollah guerrillas for firing rockets from Lebanon into Israel and abducting Israeli soldiers.
---------------------------------

Bush calls on Syria get Hizbollah to stop attacks

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - President Bush called on Syria on Saturday to exert its influence to persuade Hizbollah to stop attacks against Israel.

At a joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bush laid the blame for the upsurge in Middle East violence squarely on Lebanon-based Hizbollah guerrillas.

"The best way to stop the violence is for Hizbollah to lay down its arms and to stop attacking. And therefore I call upon Syria to exert influence over Hizbollah."

South Lebanon-based Hizbollah has backing from Iran and is Syria's main ally in neighbouring Lebanon.

Bush called the Hizbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel and its abduction of Israeli soldiers, which prompted Israeli attacks on targets in Lebanon, an assault on U.S.-led efforts for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

"The short-term solution is for Hizbollah to stop the attacks. The longer term solution is for nations around the world and nations in the neighborhood to support those who support the advance of democracy," Bush said.

Link:

G8 readies stance on Mideast, Bush backs Israel