ARAB foreign ministers held an extraordinary session at the Arab League yesterday to discuss the continuing violence in Lebanon.
In speeches that were long on rhetoric but short on substance, the 17 ministers endorsed a nine point resolution condemning Israeli "aggression" and calling for the implementation of UN Resolution 425, which says Israel should withdraw from Lebanese territory.
As Israeli attacks on Lebanon ended their seventh day, diplomatic solutions appear to be the only way out of the violence.
Moderate Arab states, particularly those who have already made peace with Israel, are anxious to keep the faltering peace process from completely collapsing, but are under pressure to distance themselves from Israel by an increasingly outraged public.
The resolution reflected this ambivalence, offering the Lebanese little other than statements of support and a vague offer of financial assistance.
But Syria, which has 35,000 troops in Lebanon and is thought to control Hizbullah, remained defiant. Its representative said that while it condemned terrorism, it was "illogical to define someone who is defending his country as a terrorist".
The Syrian Foreign Minister, Mr Farouq al Shara, said Israel, not Hizbullah, began the cycle of violence by attacking southern Lebanon on March 30th and April 3rd, and killing four people.
"The attacks on Lebanon are straight Israeli aggression," he said. "But Israel cannot reach the resistance."
The failure of Israel to isolate the guerillas was also mentioned by the Lebanese Foreign Minister, Mr Faris Bouez, who said that Israeli air attacks on civilian targets have only increased Hizbullah's popularity with ordinary Lebanese.
Commenting on a US proposal to end the violence, Mr Bouez added that although Lebanon did not reject the plan outright, it would not be accepted "unless basic modifications are done on most points."