Cabinet in open revolt over Blair's Israel policy

[spindrifter]

Gaby Hinsliff in San Francisco and Ned Temko
Sunday July 30, 2006
The Observer

Tony Blair was facing a full-scale cabinet rebellion last night over the Middle East crisis after his former Foreign Secretary warned Israel's actions risked destabilising the whole of Lebanon.
Jack Straw, now Leader of the Commons, said in a statement released after meeting Muslim constituents that while he grieved for innocent Israelis killed he also mourned the '10 times as many innocent Lebanese men, women and children killed by Israeli fire'.

Straw added that he agreed with the Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells that it was 'very difficult to understand the kind of military tactics used by Israel', adding: 'One of the many serious worries I have is that a continuation of such tactics by Israel could destabilise the already fragile Lebanese nation.'

The Observer can also reveal that at a cabinet meeting before Blair's Middle East summit talks with George Bush, minister after minister pressed him to break with the Americans' position and publicly criticise the Israelis for the scale of death and destruction in Lebanon. No one, according to one senior minister at the meeting, weighed in to support the Prime Minister.

<more>

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1833538,00.html

[PCIntern]

1. "No time to go wobbly, Tony"

Whatever your orientation, this is not the Tony Blair we knew when Clinton was Prez. Wonder what they have on him...

[QuestionAll...]

2. Dr. David Kelly comes to mind. nt

[LynnTheDem]

3. 'very difficult to understand the kind of military tactics used by Israel'

No fucking kidding.

But shhhh, don't say such a thing on DU or you'll get slammed!