Amid criticism of both Israel and Lebanon for repeated air, land and sea breaches of the so-called Blue Line, the United Nations Security Council extended Tuesday night the mandate of the peacekeeping force in the region by six months. A resolution adopted unanimously by the 15-member council condemned the the violations, and urged Israel and Lebanon "to exercise utmost restraint" in the volatile region.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan reported to the council two weeks ago that tension along the Blue Line had increased since January this year, with an escalation in April that "underscored the fragility of the situation and demonstrated how readily tensions can escalate."
According to AP, Annan reserved his harshest criticism for Hizbullah guerrillas who continue to launch attacks across the line into Israel, and the Lebanese government which refuses to respect the boundary in violation of legally binding council resolutions.
The Security Council commended the Lebanese government "for taking steps to ensure the return of its effective authority throughout the south, including the deployment of Lebanese armed forces, and calls on it to continue these measures." It encouraged the government "to ensure a calm environment throughout the south."
Additionally, he attacked "unjustified Israeli air incursions into sovereign Lebanese airspace" that have continued almost daily during the last six months.
The Security Council did not single out either country, condemning instead "all acts of violence" and expressing "great concern about the serious breaches and the air, sea and land violations of the withdrawal line." It urged the two sides end the violations.
The 3,628 UN peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, has been working to maintain the cease-fire through increased patrols and observation along the Blue Line and contacts with the Lebanese and Israelis. In January, Annan called for the UN force to be cut to 2,000 troops by the end of the year. He repeated that target in this month's report, but said because of current tensions the first reduction of the Fijian mission was delayed from June to August. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
