WASHINGTON, July 20: The US House of Representatives on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to support Israel in its new Middle East battles in a resolution which blamed Syria and Iran for the violence.

The measure was approved 410 to eight, with four abstentions. Only a handful of officials criticised the measure, mainly because it fails to call for a ceasefire.

The seven-page resolution ‘supports Israel’s right to take appropriate action to defend itself, including to conduct operations both in Israel and in the territory of nations which pose a threat to it’.

It also recognises what it says is Israel’s ‘long-standing commitment to minimising civilian loss and welcomes Israel’s continuing effort to prevent civilian casualties’.

The measure in turn ‘condemns the governments of Iran and Syria for their continued support for Hezbollah and Hamas in their armed attacks against Israelis and other terrorist activities,” then condemns Hamas and Hezbollah “for cynically exploiting civilian populations as shields.”

The House, which is dominated by members of President George Bush’s Republican Party, also commended the president ‘for fully supporting Israel as it responds to these armed attacks by terrorist organisations and their state sponsors,” and urges Mr Bush to impose sanctions against Iran and Syria.

The measure also demands that the Lebanese government ‘do everything in its power to find and free the kidnapped Israeli soldiers’ being held in Lebanon, and called on the UN Security Council ‘condemn these unprovoked acts’.

Late on Tuesday the Senate adopted by consensus a measure giving ‘steadfast support’ for Israel, and supporting Israel’s ‘right of self-defence and Israel’s right to take appropriate action to deter aggression by terrorist groups and their state sponsors’. —AFP