"Israel`s" officials: We should do all we can to bolster Siniora as he faced off against Hizbullah and its allies

Source: Haaretz, 03-12-2006
"Israel" and several Arab states, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, are increasingly worried that Fouad Siniora`s government in Lebanon will fall, resulting in a Hizbullah takeover that would turn the country into what an "Israeli" government source termed "the first Arab state to become an Iranian protectorate."
As a result, government officials have raised several ideas in recent days for how to strengthen Siniora in the face of the street protests that Hizbullah has launched against his government. The goal is to prove that Siniora can obtain more through peaceful diplomacy than Hizbullah, which has accused him of a "defeatist policy" toward "Israel", was able to gain through violence.
One possibility under discussion is urging the European Union to recognize the disputed Shibaa Farms region as Lebanese territory. Currently, both the EU and the United Nations consider the "Israeli"-held region to be Syrian, but Beirut claims that Shiba is Lebanese.
Another possibility is for Jerusalem (al-Quds) to reach an agreement with Siniora on an "Israeli" evacuation of the divided village of Ghajar and its transfer to UN control until a final agreement on its status is reached. Currently, the "Israeli"-Lebanese border splits the village in two.
"Israeli" defense (war) officials worry that even if Siniora`s government does not fall, the confrontation with Hizbullah will weaken the security arrangements in southern Lebanon that were put in place following this summer`s Lebanon war. They also fear that Hizbullah supporters might try to clash with "Israeli" soldiers stationed along the border.
Meanwhile, a senior government source said this weekend that U.S. President George Bush has told Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that he has no intention of removing Iran and Syria from the "Axis of Evil."
The Baker-Hamilton Commission, which was established to examine ways to improve the situation in Iraq, is slated to submit its findings to Bush on Wednesday, and it is widely expected to recommend that the United States begin talks with Iran and Syria.
But the government source said Bush promised Olmert that his position on Iran would remain unchanged as long as Tehran remains committed to pursuing its nuclear program. As for Syria, the source said, Bush has conditioned any resumption of dialogue on Damascus` ceasing to interfere with Lebanon and ending its support for Hizbullah, and both the recent murder of Lebanese minister Pierre Gemayal and Hizbullah`s confrontation with Siniora make it even less likely that Bush would change his position on this issue.
Last week, U.S. National Security Adviser Steve Hadley said he sees no clear connection between the "Israeli"-Arab conflict and the situation in Iraq.
Meanwhile, the Jewish (Zionist) state eyed the political crisis in Lebanon Sunday amid concerns that the Hizbullah-led campaign to bring down the government will impact its neighbor.
The tense standoff in Beirut to bring down Premier Fouad Siniora`s government was a focus of "Israeli" Premier Ehud Olmert`s weekly Cabinet meeting.
""Israel" is closely following developments in Lebanon," Olmert told ministers, according to a senior government official.
"We know what organizations and bodies are trying to topple the Lebanese government. It is of great importance that Lebanon remain politically stable," the premier added, according to the official.
While stressing the need not to intervene in Lebanon`s internal affairs, "Israeli" officials said they should do all they can to bolster Siniora as he faced off against Hizbullah and its allies.
Peretz said he instructed military intelligence to closely follow developments in Lebanon.