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Israel Fencing Off Lebanese Village Would Violate UN Resolution

Israel is attempting to build a fence around the northern part of Ghajar, a Lebanese village that lies on its northern border with Lebanon, in violation of UN Resolution 1701, writes Nasser Chararah.
An Israeli soldier sits behind concrete blocks in the village of Ghajar on the Israeli-Lebanese border November 17, 2010. Israel said on Wednesday it would withdraw troops from the village straddling the Lebanese border, in a gesture to the United Nations that drew residents onto the streets protesting the division of their community. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (POLITICS) - RTXUQYD
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In recent days, Israel has unilaterally attempted to build a fence around the northern part of Ghajar, a Lebanese village that it has occupied since 2006.  Lebanese security forces revealed to Al-Monitor that Israel had previously erected a barbed-wired fence around the northern Lebanese part of the village, to prevent — according to their claims — armed men from infiltrating the southern part of the village located in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. Israel, however, is now intent on replacing this barb-wire fence with a five meter high fence. 

Yesterday, Lebanese army leaders contacted UNIFIL leadership, which operates within the Litani line in southern Lebanon (the area specified according to UN Resolution 1701), requesting that the latter issue a complaint to Tel Aviv. Israel's move to build a fence is a violation of international law, which stipulates that the occupation authorities not make any changes to the features of the area they occupy. 

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