Israel Stunned by Solana Meet With Hizbullah Official

Al Bawaba (Link) - AFP (June 14, 2009)

Israel was "perplexed" by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana's first meeting with an official from Lebanon's Hizbullah, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Sunday. "This meeting left us perplexed, and we dare hope that Mr. Solana took advantage of the occasion to press for a disarming of Hizbullah and for the end of the arms smuggling between Syria and Hizbullah," Yigal Palmor told AFP.

Solana met on Saturday with Hizbullah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan during his visit in Beirut. "Lists of terrorist groups are not the same in every country," Solana said about the rare meeting.

For his part, Hajj Hassan said after the meeting that it was not the first encounter with EU officials but the first at the level of EU foreign policy chief. The meeting "means more EU overture towards Hezbollah, and one at a higher level," Hajj Hassan said. This also means better communication for the European Union with the region and its parties," he said, adding that this will move the EU towards more realism.

"Hizbullah is a member of the Lebanese society and it is represented in the Lebanese parliament and it will bear responsibilities," he said. †

Iran ~ Islam ~ Israel ~ Solana