French FM: It's natural to meet with Hizb'allah

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By Stan Goodenough
July 12, 2009

The Iranian-backed Lebanese terrorist organization Hizb'allah welcomed another nod in its direction from the international community Friday when French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner met with one of its legislators in Beirut.

Hizb'allah has perpetrated numerous acts of violence against Israel, including kidnapping and murdering Israeli soldiers from inside Israeli territory; actions which triggered the 2006 Second Lebanon War during which the group fired thousands of missiles at Israeli civilian population centers.

While the United States regards Hizb'allah as a terrorist organization, Britain and other European states have sought to dialogue with the group.

France has long stood out as being a champion of the Arab side to the conflict in the Middle East.

Kouchner, the second senior European official to meet with the blood-soaked organization's leadership in recent weeks, defended his decision.

"Hizb'allah is part of the parties that participated in the recent parliamentary elections. It is natural to meet with its representatives," he told reporters, according to the Associated Press.

"Lebanon is a democratic country; democracy implies we meet with opposition figures as well."

Last Thursday a group of British legislators also met with a senior Hizb'allah parliamentarian.

Israel views with alarm these western acts of intercourse with the group, which is seeking a position of influence in the new Lebanese government.

"If Hizb'allah joins the Lebanese government, then Lebanon as a country will be responsible for any Hizb'allah aggression against Israel. That has to be clear," said an advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following Kouchner's meeting in Beirut.

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