Report: Israel Rejects UNIFIL's Participation in Demarcation Talks, Tenenti Clarifies

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

In light of a US mediation between Lebanon and Israel over the border demarcation, Israel has reportedly “agreed” to the idea of ​​demarcation but refused to involve the UNIFIL forces in said talks, the Saudi Ashraq al-Awsat daily reported on Tuesday.

Political sources familiar with the visit of US Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield to Israel, said the “Israelis had agreed to the idea of ​​border demarcation, but asked for clarification on some issues,” they told the daily.

They added: “Although the Israeli have shown a lenient position, but they still reject the participation of the UNIFIL forces operating in southern Lebanon in the demarcation of the maritime border. They demand direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel with an American presence only. They reject the presence of the tripartite committee tasked with coordination and monitoring of the security situation on the land border.”

According to information, "the Israeli side believes the UNIFIL forces have no international mandate to sponsor the maritime border negotiations since there is no Security Council resolution on this matter,” added the daily.

On the other hand, UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti told al-Joumhouria daily that the “international forces had nothing to do with the demarcation of the maritime border between Lebanon and Israel.”

“Its activities are limited by land Resolution 1701 between the Litani and the Blue Line,” said Tenenti, adding that the tripartite forum, which is held periodically under the auspices of the UNIFIL command, addresses all issues related to the demarcation of land borders and the Blue Line and violations of this line.

“UNIFIL hosting of Lebanese-Israeli talks to discuss the issue of maritime borders is outside the framework of Resolution 1701, such a thing is related to the United Nations in New York,” he concluded.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 5
Missing arturo 21 May 2019, 11:29

UNIFIL is likely to do as good a job as a participant in the negotiations as it has monitoring compliance with Resolution 1701.

Thumb kanaanljdid 21 May 2019, 16:12

Which better ways SOS ? Anyway it's done today.

Thumb Mystic 21 May 2019, 17:16

Israel can be excited about Trump, if he attacks Iran then all surface to surface missiles that the Axis of Resistance possess will be pointed and fired at Haifa, Tel Aviv, Beersheba and even Eliat.

Then we can all go up in flames, but they fear it more than we do.

Thumb Mystic 22 May 2019, 16:42

So you are supposed to be the adult?
Hasbara jew boy.
You people hid in shelters when rockets hit Haifa back in 2006 aswell.
So don't act all high and mighty.

Thumb canadianleb 21 May 2019, 15:30

What do you think the chances of Lebanon getting a fair shake by negotiating with Israel and the US? The US is bending over backwards to please Israel so this will not be an exception to the rule. Lebanon needs a fourth neutral part if one can be found.