US President George W. Bush said today Israel must not feel constrained in its self-defence.
|
Avoiding criticism of Israel over its attack inside Syria Mr Bush said: "I made it very clear to [Ariel Sharon] like I have consistently done, that Israel's got a right to defend herself, that Israel must not feel constrained in terms of defending the homeland."
"However, I said that it's very important that any action Israel take(s) should avoid escalation and creating higher tensions," he said.
Earlier, Syria urged the US not to block a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel's air strike near Damascus, saying Washington should help prevent escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
"We hope that the United States does not use the veto and that it practices its role as a superpower in preventing aggression and escalation," an official source at the Syrian foreign ministry said.
"We hope that the United States joins those who condemned this aggressive operation and those are the vast majority in the world community," the source said.
Syria called an emergency Security Council meeting yesterday over Israel's attack to secure a measure that condemns the raid, saying it threatened regional and international peace.
Syria wanted an immediate vote, but Washington said the measure had to go to the capitals of council members for study.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Mr John Negropnte accused Syria of harboring "terrorists" and steered clear from criticising Israel for the air strike.
"The United States believes that Syria is on the wrong side of the war on terrorism," said Mr Negroponte.
Israel said it did not intend to pick a fight with Syria but wanted the air strike to serve as a warning for it to stop Palestinian militant groups operating on Syrian territory.
Israel said its deepest air strike into Syria in 30 years yesterday targeted a training camp for Palestinian militants and was in self-defence following a suicide bombing in Haifa by a radical Palestinian group on Saturday that killed 19 people.
Washington said it would not support the Syrian resolution condemning Israel's raid as it made no mention of the suicide attack.
The Security Council reconvenes tonight to consider the resolution.