My Gift to Saniora is Israel”s Pullout from Ghajar Ahead of Elections
Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman has said he would convince the Israeli government to withdraw from the northern part of the border village of Ghajar ahead of the June elections.
Feltman "will present a gift to Premier Fouad Saniora by convincing the new Israeli government to withdraw from the Lebanese side of the village of Ghajar before the parliamentary elections," Al-Balad daily quoted diplomatic sources as saying Sunday.
U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams expressed hope on Tuesday that the formation of a new Israeli government following elections in February would lead to a withdrawal from Ghajar and progress on the issue of cluster bombs and munitions.
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon also said in his ninth report on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 that Israel has expressed "readiness to enter into technical discussions" about the village based on a UNIFIL proposal.
"I renew my call on the parties to proceed on the basis of the UNIFIL proposal so as to facilitate the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces in accordance with Israel”s obligations under resolution 1701" that ended the Jewish state”s war with Hizbullah in 2006, Ban said.