White House: Bush contacts other leaders, not Israel, on conflict

RAW STORY
Published: Friday July 14, 2006

Though United States President George W. Bush has spoken to multiple world leaders about the escalating violence between Israel and the Lebanon-based Islamist group Hezbollah, he has not actually communicated with the only government directly involved, RAW STORY has learned.

At a press conference today, White House press secretary Tony Snow noted that Prime Minister Siniora of Lebanon, King Abdullah of Jordan, and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt all received calls from Bush regarding the present situation.

However, "The President is not going to make military decisions for Israel," Snow noted.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has also spoken with Kofi Annan, Mohammoud Abbas, and Siniora, and is reportedly working to contact others. Snow declined to specify who the others were.

"The President has not called any Israeli officials to make that point?" One reporter asked.

"He has not spoken with Israeli officials," Snow answered.