Israel hopes the Lebanese government will put an end to the "disturbances" that have broken out in southern Lebanon since Israel withdrew its troops on May 24th, by sending its army there, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.
"Israel hopes Lebanon will face up to the responsibilities imposed on it by the UN decision, and intends to establish its effective authority in southern Lebanon in order to end the disturbances which violate Israeli sovereignty," a ministry statement said.
Israel has accused the Lebanese authorities of allowing demonstrators to throw stones at its patrols or attempt to cross the border.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced Monday that about 5,000 UN forces would be deployed on July 26th, to be "immediately followed by the deployment of the composite Lebanese unit," consisting of soldiers and members of the internal security forces.
The Israeli ministry statement welcomed the letter sent by Annan to the UN Security Council Monday confirming that Israeli "violations have now all been cleared" along the withdrawal line between the two countries.
The statement said Annan's announcement reflected the fact that "Israel has done what was required of it under (UN Security Council) Resolution 425."
The resolution, passed 22 years ago, called on Israel to withdraw its troops "forthwith" from Lebanese territory. It also stipulated the establishment of a UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to "restore international peace and security" and help the Lebanese government ensure "the return of its effective authority in the area."
Lebanon has given the green light to the United Nations to start deploying peacekeeping forces down to the border on Wednesday – OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP)
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