Israel Pushes for Changes in UN's Lebanon Peacekeeping Force
As the United Nations prepares to renew the mandate of its peacekeeping operation in southern Lebanon, Israel is working with Security Council members to push for tough changes in the way the force deals with the Hizbullah group, Israeli officials said Wednesday.
Israeli diplomatic and military officials say the force, known as UNIFIL, has been largely ineffective and see the upcoming vote on extending its mandate as an opportunity to make reforms.
UNIFIL was originally created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops after a 1978 invasion. The mission was expanded in Lebanon under a U.N.-brokered cease-fire after a monthlong war between Israel and Hizbullah fighters in 2006.
Alon Bar, a senior Israeli diplomat, said the force has failed in two key responsibilities — helping the Lebanese government and army extend their authority in southern Lebanon and ridding the south of Hizbullah weapons and forces.
Israel accuses Hizbullah of blocking UNIFIL from conducting proper inspections and says the U.N. has done a poor job of reporting violations by the Iranian-backed group, giving an impression that the situation is better than it really is.
He said Israel is demanding that UNIFIL be given greater access to suspicious sites, and that the force provide more accurate and detailed reports about Hizbullah's activities to the Security Council. Although Israel is not a member of the council, he said the country has been working with its close ally, the United States, as well as other council members including France, Germany and Britain. UNIFIL's current mandate expires Aug. 31.
"We made it clear that this time we insist that at least some of the changes will be introduced and that this is unacceptable for us to continue with the situation as it is," said Bar, the Foreign Ministry's deputy director general for the U.N. and international organizations.
Israel considers Hizbullah to be its most serious immediate threat. Israeli officials estimate the group has amassed an arsenal of some 150,000 rockets and missiles aimed at Israel, and believe it is trying to develop precision-guided missiles as well.
Tensions have been rising over the past two years. In December 2018, Israel uncovered what it said was a network of cross-border Hizbullah attack tunnels, apparently built without the knowledge of UNIFIL. Last month, Israel said it thwarted an infiltration attempt by Hizbullah fighters along its northern frontier.
Brig. Gen. Efraim Defrin, head of the Israeli army's international cooperation unit, said relations with UNIFIL are good, but that the force's "hands are tied" and it must do a better job. He said, for instance, UNIFIL still has not been able to inspect the tunnels on the Lebanese side of the border.
Both officials acknowledged the recent blast in Beirut has added to Lebanon's instability, but said that made it even more critical to improve UNIFIL.
"You are looking at this way as an opportunity to force a change," Defrin said.
20 August 2020, 08:27
04
UNIFIL should Either grow some balls and do it's job, or get out and let the borders of Lebanon be open for a war that will end Hizbulla's existence.
20 August 2020, 08:34
00
Kizb has to be eliminated and disarmed that is true. UNIFIL is also useless that is also true. But also the Israeli repeated violations and occupation have to be stopped... Only then can there be peace with these idiots.
But recent events in Lebanon have proved that Kizb + Lebanese Mafia + Corrupt politicians have done more harm to Lebanon than Israel... Imagine that... They have destroyed the country, robbed the people, and hold them hostage... They are the bigger enemy now...
20 August 2020, 08:35
21
Israel and the Arab countries have a lot in common, they need each other to keep their own people under control. Israel discriminates not only the Palestinians but also its own people who are not of Western descent, and the people may / cannot complain because the government has a more important priority: " keep an eye on the real enemy the Arabs". Arabs discriminate their own people if they are not from the same tribe, and the people cannot / should not complain because the government has an important priority: "keeping an eye on the enemy Israel". And if internal tension rises Israel and the Arabs start a small war to distract. Of course we could add Iran to the list.
