JERUSALEM (EJP)--- Ministers from the French, German and British government arrived in Israel on Sunday to hold separate talks with Israeli leaders with the aim of ending the fighting between Israel and Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Dozens have been killed on both sides of the border since hostilities began a week and a half ago when Hezbollah operatives kidnapped two Israeli soldiers from their base close to the border with Lebanon killing eight other soldiers during the raid.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and British Foreign Office minister Kim Howells will all hold meetings with Israel’s Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and other senior officials.

Ceasefire needed

Douste-Blazy toured Haifa and meet with local French nationals on Sunday before meeting with Livni.

Speaking in Jordan on Saturday, he stressed the importance of stopping the exchange of fire between Israel and Lebanon.

"We have to act quickly to reach a ceasefire agreement and ensure the political conditions that permit the exchange of prisoners and the deployment of Lebanese forces on the border," Douste-Blazy said.

"The failure to do so will be unjustifiable and will lead to further deterioration because violence breads violence," he added.

The French government have been unflinching in their condemnation of the “disproportionate” use of force by the Israelis over Lebanon which has left much of Beirut and other cities in ruins and forced thousands of people, including French and British nationals, to flee the country.

British concern

Howells was due to visit the Rambam hospital in Haifa where many of the local wounded have been taken and meet with the city’s Mayor Yonah Yahav, before holding talks with Livni and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Before leaving for Israel Howells spoke of his concern at the continuing situation.

"We are gravely concerned by the crisis in the Middle East, which is causing great harm to ordinary people on all sides and which threatens the wider security in the region. In the coming days, I will be having discussions with ministers in Lebanon, Israel, the Occupied Territories and Jordan. The aim of these talks will be to work towards a lasting ceasefire, backed up by action not just words, which guarantees Israel’s security and that of its neighbours,” he said.

The British government has blamed Hezbollah for starting the conflict and Howells echoed British prime minister Tony Blair’s statement that a ceasefire is only likely if Hezbollah returns the two captured Israeli soldiers. He also encouraged Hamas to return kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit taken more than four weeks ago.

Howells said: "As we have said, the best way for this to happen would be for the three Israeli soldiers to be returned; for the shelling of Israel to end; for the Israeli military activity to stop; and for the release of the arrested Palestinian Ministers and Parliamentarians.”

Referring to the need to disarm Hezbollah, he added: “Of course it’s essential to find a way to implement UNSCR1559 - especially the disarming of militias in Lebanon and helping the Lebanese Government establish full sovereign control over all its territory. We want to find a way to resolve this crisis as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, Steinmeier, speaking in Cairo on Saturday, blamed “extremists” for causing the situation.

"We cannot allow extremist forces to define the agenda of the Middle East," Steinmeier said. "We must strive to stop extremist forces from wanting to broaden the scope of the conflict.”

"We are making all efforts to create the suitable conditions which will allow for a ceasefire, within a political framework aimed at reaching permanent stability in the region," he added.