QUDS, JULY 23, SPA-- ENVOYS FROM THREE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES JOINED INTENSIFYING DIPLOMACY IN ISRAEL ON SUNDAY AIMED AT ENDING FIGHTING BETWEEN ISRAELI FORCES AND HIZBOLLAH THAT HAS WRECKED SWATHES OF LEBANON AND LEFT HUNDREDS DEAD, REUTERS REPORTED. MINISTERS FROM FRANCE, GERMANY AND BRITAIN HELD SEPARATE TALKS WITH ISRAELI OFFICIALS AHEAD OF U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE'S ARRIVAL IN THE MIDDLE EAST. SHE WAS DUE TO LEAVE WASHINGTON FOR THE REGION ON SUNDAY AND EXPECTED TO HOLD MEETINGS IN ISRAEL ON TUESDAY. EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN FAR MORE CRITICAL OF ISRAEL'S OFFENSIVE THAN ITS MAIN ALLY, THE UNITED STATES, WHICH HAS RESISTED GROWING CALLS FOR A CEASEFIRE AND MADE CLEAR THAT IT BLAMES IRANIAN-BACKED HIZBOLLAH FOR THE CRISIS.
