Caretaker Foreign Affairs Minsiter Abdallah Bou Habib speaking at a meeting in the UN headquarters in New York, USA. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Stability in south Lebanon depends on the “good relationship between UNIFIL, the authorities and the residents of Lebanon,” as well as the demarcation of the land border, caretaker Foreign Affairs Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said at the UN Friday — part of an effort to remove an article to UNIFIL's upcoming mandate renewal that is strongly opposed by Hezbollah.
Ahead of the upcoming expiration of the UNIFIL’s mandate on Aug. 31, Bou Habib had traveled to New York in a bid to have the article withdrawn from the renewal resolution.
Introduced into UN Resolution 2560 last year at the instigation of Western powers, Article 16 allows the UN force to carry out its mission in southern Lebanon “without prior authorization” and “independently” of the Lebanese Army.
This amendment aroused the ire of both Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah, but they were unable to have it withdrawn at the time.
“Bou Habib’s visit aims at reducing tensions and maintaining security and stability in southern Lebanon, ahead of the anticipated session of the Security Council later this month to renew the mandate of UNIFIL for an additional year," according to a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The renewal process "emphasizes Lebanon's commitment to the freedom of movement for UNIFIL in coordination with the Lebanese army, in a way that preserves Lebanese sovereignty, ensures the success of the international force's missions, and safeguards its elements,” Bou Habib reportedly added.
"Secondly, demarcating the land borders contributes to putting an end to the ongoing tensions that occur at the borders due to this issue. Lebanon requested during the tripartite meetings held in Naqoura under the auspices of the United Nations to continue the discussions regarding the disputed and reserved points related to the Blue Line. However, the Israeli side did not respond," he said.
"The Lebanese government's coordinator with UNIFIL, Brigadier General Munir Shhada, participated as part of the Lebanese delegation [to the UN], where he presented an overview of the Blue Line, the points reserved by Lebanon, Israeli violations, and the Lebanese territories still under Israeli occupation,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry ministry statement concluded.
Tensions have risen at the Lebanese-Israeli border this past summer. Hezbollah set up tents near the disputed and annexed village of Ghajar, Israeli forces launched rockets toward Lebanon after mortar fire from the Lebanese side, and a handful of Lebanese MPs and journalists were targeted by Israeli teargas along the border.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen threatened to "take Lebanon back to the Stone Age" and lashed out at Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, calling him "weak" and "hiding like a rat in the cellar.”
Nasrallah responded in kind to the Israeli threats: "If Israel declares war on Lebanon, it will be reduced to the Stone Age."