Susan Rice Admits U.S. Can”t Expand UNIFIL”s Authority
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said the Obama administration does not have the power to expand UNIFIL”s authority in south Lebanon, Israel”s Ynet news reported Thursday.
It said Rice told the House of Representative”s Foreign Affairs Committee that while UNIFIL enjoys limited power in Lebanon, its presence still has some value.
However, Rice said she does believe the Security Council would support expanding UNIFIL”s authority in a bid to counter Hizbullah”s increased presence.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Gabriela Shalev has said recent incidents in Lebanon, including the explosion of an alleged Hizbullah weapons cache in Khirbet Selm, proved that the Shiite group "consistently obstructs the implementation of Resolution 1701 by building new military infrastructure south of the Litani River."
Under its current mandate, UNIFIL is permitted to operate south of the Litani River in coordination with the Lebanese army, but not independently.
According to Ynet, Rice told the committee members that U.N. peacekeepers failed to properly investigate the blast at the weapons depot because it lacks the authority to use force.
Her comments came as the Security Council is set to discuss next month the extension of UNIFIL”s mandate in south Lebanon.