Israel 'perplexed' by Solana-Hezbollah talks

[joeblow]

Israel 'perplexed' by Solana-Hezbollah talks
Sun, 14 Jun 2009 10:30:43 GMT

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Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana (L) and Hezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan

An unprecedented meeting between the EU foreign policy chief and an official from Lebanon's Hezbollah has left Israel 'perplexed', an Israeli official says.

"This meeting left us perplexed, and we dare hope that Mr. Solana took advantage of the occasion to press for a disarming of Hezbollah and for the end of the arms smuggling between Syria and Hezbollah," Yigal Palmor, a foreign ministry spokesmen said, AFP reported.

Javier Solana held talks with Hezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan on Saturday during a Beirut visit to reaffirm Europe's support for Lebanon after the June 7 parliamentary polls.

"This also means better communication for the European Union with the region and its parties," Hassan said after the talks, adding that the move will "move the EU towards more realism."

"Hezbollah is a member of the Lebanese society and it is represented in the Lebanese parliament and it will bear responsibilities," Solana said before leaving for Egypt at the end of a two-day visit.

Israel, which considers Hezbollah a terror group along its main ally the US, launched an unsuccesful 33-day war to destroy the Lebanese movement in 2006.

MGH/DT