Graziano Hints Ghajar Issue Linked to Israeli Elections
UNIFIL Commander Gen. Claudio Graziano said the situation south of the Litani river has been positive in 2008 despite several incidents and hinted that the issue of the town of Ghajar was linked to the elections in Israel.
U.N. peacekeepers are playing an important role in cooperation with the Lebanese army to keep stability in the south, he told As Safir daily in remarks published Tuesday.
Asked about meetings between the Lebanese and Israeli militaries sponsored by UNIFIL, Graziano said such talks deal with security problems and aim at establishing a minimum level of confidence between both sides.
He said his troops seek to protect the people”s interest in the south and make sure Israel would withdraw from occupied Lebanese territories, particularly the border town of Ghajar.
Graziano told As Safir that U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams is negotiating with the Israelis to ensure their pullout from the northern sector of Ghajar which lies in Lebanese territory.
He hinted that the issue was related to the upcoming parliamentary elections in Israel.
Since elections are approaching, an official can”t make a decision which would have an effect on him, Graziano said.
He said it was unfortunate that Israeli troops kidnapped two Lebanese farmers near the village of Blida.
He urged all sides to trust peacekeepers and not to take a unilateral decision.
Graziano told his interviewer that UNIFIL will present on Tuesday its report to the Lebanese authorities on the Blida incident.
Israel on Saturday turned over to UNIFIL the two farmers kidnapped from their olive grove a day earlier.
Asked about reports of exchanged threats between the Israeli and Lebanese sides on the incident, Graziano said: "We neither carried nor received a threat."
He said UNIFIL carried out an impartial investigation in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1701.
Graziano told As Safir that a Council report would summarize the situation in UNIFIL”s area of operations and if the mission had seized Hizbullah arms or monitored any maneuvers by the Shiite group south of the Litani river.
He believed U.N. troops were under continued threat but said peacekeepers and the Lebanese army were taking all measures to prevent terrorist attacks against them.