Would-be peacemakers

THE LEADERS gathered in St. Petersburg for the G-8 summit would have been irresponsible if they had not devoted as much time and energy as they did to ending the warfare of the past week in Israel and Lebanon. The suffering of civilians on both sides was reason enough for the presidents and prime ministers to hammer out a statement calling for an end of hostilities and for measures aimed at addressing the ``root causes" of the conflict.

In a document reflecting what President Vladimir Putin of Russia called ``satisfactory compromise language that is extremely balanced," the G-8 leaders took a clear position. ``The root cause of the problems in the region is the absence of a comprehensive Middle East peace," the statement said. ``The immediate crisis results from efforts by extremist forces to destabilize the region. These extremist elements and those that support them cannot be allowed to plunge the Middle East into chaos and provoke a wider chaos."

The text's bow to diplomatic discretion was evident in its not naming Hamas and Hezbollah as the forces that initiated the crisis and in not identifying Iran and Syria as their backers. The balance came in the admonition ``that Israel, while exercising the right to defend itself, be mindful of the strategic and humanitarian consequences of its actions."

Given the need for consensus among states with divergent interests, this was about as firm a statement as could be expected. But it will be of little use if the G-8 leaders do not follow it up with concerted action. They must bring unified pressure to bear on all the parties to the conflict to do what the St. Petersburg statement demanded. The abducted Israeli soldiers must be released unharmed, and Hamas legislators and ministers should be released from Israeli custody. Hezbollah's firing of rockets into Israel must stop, and UN Resolution 1559 requiring that Hezbollah disarm has to be implemented.

If a cessation of violence is to become something more than a mere pause, there will have to be an effective peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon. ``The only way," to stop the violence, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said in St. Petersburg, ``is if we have a deployment of international forces that can stop bombardment into Israel."

In the past, however, UN forces in southern Lebanon have failed to keep the peace. For this reason, Israel is insisting that Lebanon's regular army should take up positions in southern Lebanon and prevent Hezbollah from renewing its unilateral cross-border attacks on Israel.

What may be needed is a phased solution: a cease-fire, followed by international monitors, the disarming of Hezbollah, and finally a sovereign Lebanon taking responsibility for what happens on its own territory.