Israel reinforcements took up positions around the border town of Kfarshouba to face a possible action by local residents who threatened to remove a recently set up Israeli position if UNIFIL failed to address their demand immediately.
Residents had given a weeklong ultimatum to UNIFIL last week threatening to take action to remove the unmanned post on the outskirts of Kfarshouba if UNIFIL failed to meet the deadline.
Around 70 Lebanese, led by MP Qassem Hashem, cut through barbed wire and marched on the post in the Kfarshouba hills which Israel set up last week.
The protesters put a Lebanese flag and another of Hizbullah just outside the post before being asked by U.N. peacekeepers in the area to evacuate the grounds.
Last Tuesday the Lebanese army asked the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to remove the position.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese army and UNIFIL troops were put on alert "in case of any emergency," while UNIFIL helicopters hovered above the Blue Line, local media said Tuesday.
UNIFIL commander Maj. Gen. Claudio Gratziano met Lebanese army commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji at the Defense Ministry in Yarze on Monday to discuss ways to curtail any possible repercussions from Israeli violations of Lebanese territory around Baathaeel Pond on the outskirts of Kfarshshouba.
Premier-designate Saad Hariri on Monday rejected Israeli calls for the amendment of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 which ended a 34-day war between Israel and Hizbullah, and called for full commitment to its provisions without exception.
"Israel”s calls for the amendment of Resolution 1701 are a new attempt to escape (its obligations) and to hide the real violations of this resolution," Hariri told visiting U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams.
He cautioned the international community against the "dangers of slipping toward any form of manipulation of Resolution 1701."
Hariri called for safeguarding "UNIFIL”s role and responsibility to protect the Lebanese border against any Israeli aggression."
"We stress that UNIFIL is a friendly force that is undertaking the essential tasks of guaranteeing Lebanon”s sovereignty and the implementation of 1701," he said.
Williams, in turn, said he discussed with Hariri the implementation of Resolution 1701 and "agreed on the need for all sides to adhere to this resolution."