JERUSALEM, July 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Israel on Sunday rejected British Prime Minister Tony Blair's contention that the Mideast conflict was one of the underlying causes of terror, saying the London bombings were part of a wider terror war being waged against Western countries.     

    According to local newspaper Ha'aretz, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said, "The terrorists operating in London last week were doing it as part of a comprehensive terrorist war against the Western civilization similar to what they've done in the US, similar to what they've done in Spain."

    In a weekend interview on BBC Radio, Blair said it was crucial to address terrorism's underlying causes, which he identified as deprivation, lack of democracy and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.     

    "I think this type of terrorism has very deep roots. As well as dealing with the consequences of this -- trying to protect ourselves as much as any civil society can -- you have to try to pull it up by its roots," Blair said.

    Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Blair had "touched reality and spoke strategically of the need to deal with the problems of this region."     

    Three near simultaneous bomb attacks hit underground trains and a fourth one ripped through a bus in London on Thursday, killing some 50 and wounding 700. Enditem