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Israel demands UN expand peacekeeping mission in Lebanon

Ahead of the renewal for the UNIFIL mandate this summer, and with tensions at the border increasing, Israel wants rules in place so that UN peacekeepers can be more effective.
UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) patrol in southern Lebanese town of Ramyah, Lebanon September 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho - RC11D06C6240

Speaking at a May 6 video press briefing, Israeli UN envoy Danny Danon said his government is seeking significant changes in the way the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon operates. Danon said the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) must offer its troops freedom of movement throughout the region and have access to any suspicious sites, including places where Hezbollah has a presence (Hezbollah has, among other things, built tunnels as part of a strategy to attack Israel in the past). He said that when peacekeepers are blocked from entry anywhere, this should be immediately reported to the UN security Council. Danon said that over time, the number of places UNIFIL troops can travel to has been reduced, saying, "We want them to have full freedom of movement.”

UNIFIL was originally created in 1978 to oversee the withdrawal of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from southern Lebanon after the Israeli invasion that year. After the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, UNIFIL’s mandate was expanded. The peacekeepers were asked to support Lebanese armed forces extend their authority throughout the south of the country, including along the Blue Line, on the border demarcation with Israel. 

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