Draft Resolution on UNIFIL Creates Controversy
A draft Security Council resolution on the renewal of UNIFIL”s mandate has created controversy because it hints at the Khirbet Selm and Kfarshouba incidents as violations of resolution 1701.
Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat said that both the U.S. and Britain have given consent to the French-drafted resolution which is expected to be adopted on Thursday. It calls for the renewal of UNIFIL”s mandate for another year without a change to its Rules of Engagement.
Al-Hayat said that the draft doesn”t specifically mention the Khirbet Selm and Kfarshouba incidents although U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said in his letter to the Council that the events were a clear violation of resolution 1701.
However, As Safir daily said differences emerged among Council members over French insistence with U.S. backing to include an article on "concerns about violations of resolution 1701 and particularly the dangerous violation referred to in the U.N. Secretary-General”s letter."
A diplomatic source said that Libya has called for amending the article so as not to refer to the Khirbet Selm incident or even hint at it.
Libya insisted that if the "dangerous violation" would be mentioned in the draft, then Israel”s continuous violations of Lebanese airspace and occupation of the northern part of Ghajar and Shebaa Farms should also be mentioned.
Libya has also expressed reservations on article 2 of the draft which calls on all parties to respect the Blue Line and cooperate with UNIFIL to demarcate it and reach an understanding over Ghajar.
The diplomatic source said several countries have called for amending the article and asking Israel to withdraw from the northern part of Ghajar rather than only urge the Jewish state to reach an understanding with the Lebanese government over it.
The source expected Council members to reach a settlement acceptable by Libya, the only Arab country in the Security Council.