U.S. Role in Middle East Crisis One of Diplomacy

U.S. involvement in the rapidly spiraling violence in the Middle East is likely to remain a strictly diplomatic effort, pointed mainly toward convincing Israel to exercise restraint in its military response.

In a July 13 press briefing, Secretary of Defense Condoleezza Rice stated that the U.S. would continue in its efforts to unite the international community in condemning terrorism and, after the crisis ends "to return to our partnership with the people of Lebanon to fulfill their democratic aspirations," adding "it is extremely important that Israel exercise her restraint in its activities of self-defense."

U.S. diplomacy is not likely to have significant effect on the two armed groups currently fighting Israel. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are considered terrorist groups by the State Department. The U.S. has no diplomatic relations at all with either group, or with one of their backers, Iran, and only limited and tenuous relations with their other ally, Syria. Thus, Israel looks like the only combatant that might respond to diplomacy.

Sec. Rice stated that the Bush administration believes the best chance for de-escalation of the crisis continues to rest with the U.N. "I had a conversation with [U.N. Secretary General Annan] yesterday morning, and suggested that it might be useful for the U.N. to send a mission, and he is now sending such a mission," she said.

To the involvement of Syria, Sec. Rice stated, "We have to remember that both the external leadership of Hamas and a number of the Hezbollah activities are carried out from the territory of Syria, and Syria needs to act responsibly and stop the use of its territory for these kinds of activities, and it needs to bring all pressure on those that it is harboring to stop this and to return the soldiers and to allow the situation to de-escalate."

"We've been very active, very involved, but we do believe that this is a situation that can be resolved if the parties will take responsible actions," concluded Sec. Rice.

Also See:
Transcript of Press Briefing by Condoleezza Rice
The Powder Keg That Is The Middle East: Ignited?
Hezbollah v Israel - Facing A Crisis
History of Terrorism in the Middle East