UK to talk with Hizbullah
By politics.co.uk staff
The British government will engage in direct contact with the political wing of Lebanon’s Hizbullah movement.
Addressing MPs yesterday, Foreign Office minister for the Middle East Bill Rammell said the UK would not, however, address the movement’s militant wing.
He also told parliament the move for discussions would have no implications for Britain’s refusal to enter into dialogue with Hamas in the Palestinian territories.
Mr Rammell said the decision to speak with Hizbullah’s political wing was taken “in the light of more positive developments in Lebanon, and the formation of the national unity government in which Hizbullah is participating”.
“Our over-riding objective is to press Hizbullah to play a more constructive role and move away from violence,” he said.
Analysts suggest the move may be intended to encourage the United States to follow suit after Barack Obama’s administration declared a desire to pursue a fresh approach of engagement with parties shunned by the previous Bush administration.
Hizbullah was created after Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon, and was initially linked to acts of terrorism.
However, despite fighting with Israel for a month in 2006 and rearming since, the group refrained for becoming involved in the recent Gaza conflict which saw more than 1,300 Palestinians killed.
Hizbullah also has a number of MPs in the Lebanese parliament.
The Foreign Office said it had now reconsidered its position on no contact with the party in light of the positive recent political developments in Lebanon.
