Bush reaffirms support of Israel

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — President Bush split sharply from other world leaders Friday in his approach to the deepening crisis in the Middle East as he declined a request from Lebanon's prime minister to urge Israel to halt its attacks.

While Israeli warplanes struck deeper into Lebanon, Bush talked by phone with Middle Eastern leaders but refused to pressure his Israeli allies to halt their attacks, as Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora asked during a phone call from Bush.

Israel's bombardment of Lebanon has been denounced by a host of nations. Spain, Norway, France, Russia, China and others criticized Israel and also called for a cease-fire. The Vatican said it "deplores the attack on Lebanon."

The differing approaches threatened to divide a summit of the Group of Eight leading industrial nations in Russia at a time when the Bush administration has been hoping the world leaders would come together to form a common front against the Iranian nuclear program.

Leaders are expected to spend time this weekend in St. Petersburg discussing the violence that erupted Wednesday, and trying to fashion a joint statement that would lay out a common approach, U.S. aides said.

Bush's phone call to Siniora in the midst of spiraling tension in Middle East led to confusion about what the two leaders said to one another.

In a statement about the conversation from Siniora's office, the Lebanese leader said Bush promised to urge Israel "to limit damage to Lebanon ... and to spare civilians and innocent people from harm."

But Bush aides said the president declined to urge a halt to Israeli attacks because he believes the government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is entitled to defend itself in a crisis that was begun by Hezbollah militants who staged a cross-border raid into Israel from southern Lebanon to capture two soldiers.

Bush "believes the Israelis have the right to protect themselves, and that in doing so they should limit as much as possible so-called collateral damage, not only to facilities but also to human lives," Tony Snow, the White House press secretary, said in Russia.

By the end of the day, the administration decided to place additional weight on its message of restraint to Israel.

"It is extremely important that Israel exercise her restraint in its activities of self-defense," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a hasty, late-night visit to reporters with Stephen Hadley, the White House national security adviser. She added that such a message had been sent privately during the day through diplomatic channels.

At the same time, Snow emphasized, "The president is not going to make military decisions for Israel."

In contrast, French President Jacques Chirac condemned the Israeli offensive as "totally disproportionate," and said it appeared Israel "wished to destroy Lebanon."

The European Union condemned the Israeli actions on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had dinner with Bush in St. Petersburg after the American leader's arrival from Germany, said in earlier comments Friday that "all sides should immediately end their military actions" as a "starting point for resolving all other problems," according to the Russian news agency Interfax.

In a message clearly directed at Israel, Putin added: "It is absolutely obvious that any large-scale use of force, even in response to provocative acts, is as unacceptable as taking people hostage as a method to sort out some issues, including political ones."

Analysts said that while the leaders' comments were consistent with their long-standing positions on the Middle East issues, they would unavoidably pose new complications at the meeting.

On Thursday the United States, following the pattern of past actions at the United Nations, came to Israel's aid by vetoing a resolution proposed by Qatar to condemn the Israeli thrust against Lebanon.

Bush's approach on security issues in the Mideast has been to allow Israel full latitude, while urging Israeli leaders to use restraint to avoid inflicting harm to civilians.

U.S. officials said they are supporting a joint effort of Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as well as a separate initiative of a U.N. team, to find a solution to the crisis. U.S. officials are barred by law from dealing directly with what are deemed terrorist groups, so must rely on others. Snow, the White House press secretary, said the administration views the U.N. effort as an important means to bring more pressure on Hezbollah.