Peres to put Israel's case in Lebanon war to world

JERUSALEM, July 23 (Reuters) Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is sending elder statesman Shimon Peres on an image-mending tour of Europe and the United States after accusing the foreign media of bias in favour of Hizbollah.

An official in Olmert's office said Peres -- Israel's vice premier and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate -- would travel to several cities to explain Israel's position.

The Web site of Israel's Maariv newspaper said Peres' tour would focus on media appearances and visits to Jewish communities. It was unclear when he would leave.

Thousands protested against Israel's attacks on Lebanon in London, Amsterdam and Chicago yesterday.

The war broke out on July 12 when Hizbollah captured two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others in a cross-border raid. Israel retaliated with attacks that have wrecked Lebanon's infrastructure and killed 365 people, mostly civilians.

At least 37 Israelis have died, 17 of them civilians killed by Hizbollah rockets on the north of the country.

Israel has said it wants to cripple Hizbollah, which is sworn to destroy the Jewish state. The Shi'ite militia group is backed by Iran and Syria, both arch enemies of Israel.

Today, Olmert said the international media was biased in its reporting of the conflict.

''The massive, brutal and murderous viciousness of Hizbollah is unfortunately not represented in its full intensity on television screens outside of Israel,'' Olmert told reporters.

''A twisted image is presented, where the victim is presented as an aggressor.'' British Foreign Office minister Kim Howells, who visited Israel on Sunday, said Israel had to be aware of the effect its offensive was having on public opinion worldwide.

''It knows only too well it is not enough just to seek a military victory,'' Howells told a news conference.

''They have to win the wider political battle and they have to think very hard about those children who are dying. It is not enough to just say 'unfortunate collateral damage'.'' Reuters MQA DB2215