WASHINGTON (ABP) — As American and European Baptist leaders called for an immediate cease-fire of hostilities between Israel and militant wings of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, the Bush administration dismissed any cease-fire that does not include disarming Hezbollah.
Leaders of the European Baptist Federation passed a resolution July 26 in which the 51-nation group “joins the call of the United Nations Secretary General, the European Union and others for an immediate cessation of hostilities, praying for a just and lasting peace for all peoples and a negotiated cease-fire.”
The resolution expresses “concern at the death of so many innocent civilians in the countries involved and confesses deep disappointment at the disproportionate use of force by the Israeli military in their pursuit of Hezbollah, which has caused serious loss of life amongst the innocent Lebanese civilian population and the degradation of the basic infrastructure of the Lebanese state.”
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who visited the region July 25-26, said she and Bush fear an immediate cease-fire would result in a “status quo ante,” or a return to the situation that prevailed immediately before Israel's air and ground strikes against Lebanon began July 12. Hezbollah militants have attacked Israeli troops and menaced cities in northern Israel with missiles.
As of July 27, the confrontation had killed more than 30 Israeli civilians and well over 300 Lebanese civilians. In addition, hundreds have been injured and, according to the United Nations, over a million people in both countries have been displaced.
Instead of a truce, Bush has called on Israel to show restraint in attacking targets that may cause civilians to be killed or injured.
But the head of the American Baptist Churches-USA said that's not enough.
“In the face of such a humanitarian crisis, calls for the fighting parties to be restrained in their actions fall short of what is needed,” wrote ABC General Secretary Roy Medley, who also called for a cease-fire.
“This violent conflict has created a grave humanitarian crisis, and no hoped-for benefit should outweigh the cause of saving innocent lives,” Medley said in a July 24 letter to Bush.
“Your presidential leadership and the full weight of the United States, acting in concert with the international community, must be applied now to achieve an immediate cease-fire and to launch an intensive diplomatic initiative for the cessation of hostilities.”
-30-
Read more: