UNIFIL Seeking to Facilitate Israel”s Withdrawal From Ghajar
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said its command is tying to facilitate withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Lebanese sector of the southern village of Ghajar.
UNIFIL spokeswoman Yasmina Bouziane said the force commander has held separate talks with Israeli and Lebanese officers to facilitate the move in line with UNSCR 1701, which calls for withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories occupied in the summer war of 2006.
UNIFIL hopes that its efforts would be successful which means "success for UNSCR 1701," she said.
Such success helps in building confidence among the various sides in the southern region, she added.
Meanwhile, the military tribunal on Tuesday launched the trial of two Islamic Jihad Movement operatives on charges of planning to attack U.N. peacekeepers and planning attacks on state security.
Defendant Bashir Mohammed Talal denied the charges, but said he fired rockets at Israel from south Lebanon on two occasions, one before the summer war of 2006 and the other after the Nahr al-Bared clashes.
Defendant Mohammed Youssef Hamadi also denied planning to attack the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) but testified to having played a role in the rocket attacks against Israel.
The two also denied charges of planning attacks on state security but testified to having been trained on the use of weapons and explosives at the southern refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh.