CBNNews.com - JERUSALEM, Israel - Israeli officials condemned the British government's decision to open talks with the Lebanese-based Hezbollah terror group.

Britain's Middle East Foreign Minister Bill Rammell announced the government's position on Wednesday, citing "more positive developments in Lebanon and the formation of the national unity government in which Hezbollah is participating."

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor decried the decision.

"Hezbollah is a despicable terrorist organization whose leaders have no honor," Palmor said.

"It uses violence as a means to foist itself and the interest of the country IRAN that pulls its strings on Lebanon. All its activities are designed to undercut peace and stability in the Middle East," he said.

"Anyone looking to promote compromise, understanding and peace in the Middle East will not find a partner in Hezbollah," Palmor said.

Likud foreign policy advisor Zalman Shoval agreed with the Foreign Ministry's assessment.

"This is a very negative development that sends all the wrong signals to other terrorist organizations," Shoval said.

"The British justification for the move - the formation of a national unity government in which Hezbollah is participating - is weak," he said.

"They say they are doing this because of the growing role of Hezbollah in Lebanese politics, but is that growing role a good or a bad thing? Why do they want to encourage it?" Shoval queried.

Source: The Jerusalem Post