Israeli security services call for extending UNIFIL mandate
The Israeli security services called on the cabinet to extend UNIFIL’s mandate for one year, and Tel Aviv in turn called on the United Nations Security Council to extend it.
According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the request came after Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak criticized UNIFIL and UN Security Council Resolution 1701 for being “almost ineffective” and called for increasing the forces’ technical abilities.
The security services also called for dialogue with the UN and for allowing UNIFIL to “be more firm” with Hezbollah in South Lebanon by loosening the restrictions on firing.
The UN Security Council will hold a meeting on August 31, when members will vote on extending the UNIFIL mandate.