Israel Has Not Set Date for Ghajar Pullout, Talks Underway
A UNIFIL spokeswoman disclosed Thursday that Lebanon has accepted a proposal for the force to "facilitate" an Israeli withdrawal from the town of Ghajar but Israel has yet to set a date for a pull out.
Yasmina Bouziane”s statement came after the daily An Nahar quoted diplomatic sources as saying that Israel will withdraw from the northern part of Ghajar this month. They added that all sides involved have made the final arrangements for the pullout
Bouziane declined to comment on the report but said UNIFIL was still in talks with the Israeli side on the proposed settlement. "The Israelis have not set a date for a withdrawal," she added.
A tripartite meeting was held last month between officials from the Lebanese army, UNIFIL Commander Maj. Gen. Claudio Graziano and Israeli military representatives at a U.N. base near the area of Ras al-Naqoura, Bouziane said in a press release.
The officials discussed the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, particularly violations of the U.N.-drawn Blue Line to avoid any incident in the border area, she added. The Israeli occupation of Ghajar and the demarcation of the Blue Line were also discussed, she said.
She refused to offer more details on the initiative since "it was still under debate and media exposure would only impede progress."
Bouziane, however, said that U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has "repeatedly stressed the need for an imminent solution to the case, during contacts with senior UNIFIL officials over the proposal."
Bouziane pointed out that the Israeli occupation of Ghajar was "a violation of Resolution 1701 which calls for Israel”s withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territories."