Lebanon complains to UN Security Council over Israeli walls in its territory
The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday submitted a complaint to the U.N. Security Council regarding Israel's construction of two concrete walls inside Lebanese territory.
In a statement, the Ministry said that it "submitted, through Lebanon's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, a complaint to the Security Council in response to Israel's new and serious violation of Lebanese sovereignty, adding to its numerous and ongoing violations.”
“This violation consists of the construction of two T-shaped concrete separation walls southwest and southeast of the town of Yaroun, within the internationally recognized Lebanese borders. The construction of these walls, the presence of which has been documented by UNIFIL forces, leads to the encroachment on additional Lebanese land and constitutes a violation of Resolution 1701 (2006) and the 2024 Declaration of Cessation of Hostilities," the Ministry added.
In its complaint, Lebanon called upon the Security Council and the U.N. Secretariat to take urgent action to deter Israel from its violations of Lebanese sovereignty, compel it to remove the two walls, and immediately withdraw south of the Blue Line from all areas it still occupies within Lebanon, including the five border hills.
Lebanon also demanded that Israel refrain from imposing what it calls buffer zones within Lebanese territory, respect its obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, and allow the return of Lebanese civilians to their border villages.
The Lebanese government also reiterated in the complaint its “readiness to engage in negotiations with Israel to end the occupation and halt the attacks.”
Lebanon also outlined in its complaint the efforts undertaken by the Lebanese Army to implement the national plan aimed at monopolizing weapons under state control and strengthening its deployment south of the Litani River, in coordination with UNIFIL and the ceasefire monitoring committee.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Youssef Raji affirmed that “Lebanon has entered a serious reform phase based on the state’s monopoly on weapons and the consolidation of sovereignty over all its territory,” stressing that “the presence of any armed groups in Lebanon outside the authority of the state is no longer acceptable.”
Raji’s remarks came during his participation in the Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial Meeting held in Barcelona. In his address to the meeting, he emphasized “Lebanon’s commitment to stability and security in the region” and thanked Spain and the European Union for their continued support of Lebanon.
Raji also noted “Lebanon’s openness to reactivating the 1949 Armistice Agreement” and called on the international community to pressure Israel to cease its daily violations and attacks on civilians and UNIFIL forces, and to withdraw completely from the occupied territories. He also called for supporting the Lebanese Army and strengthening its capabilities, and for the reconstruction of the affected border areas as a basic condition for stability.
Source: Naharnet
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