UN's Ban welcomes Israel's decision to withdraw troops from northern Ghajar

[News_Editor]

UN's Ban welcomes Israel's decision to withdraw troops from northern Ghajar

2010-11-19 04:14:16 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday welcomed the Israeli Government's decision to withdraw its army from the northern part of Ghajar, a village that straddles the so-called Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon.

Ban said the withdrawal of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) from northern Ghajar would be “an important step†towards the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701, which brought to an end the conflict that took place between Israel and the Lebanese group Hizbollah four years ago.

The resolution also calls for respect for the Blue Line, the disarming of all militias operating in Lebanon and an end to arms smuggling in the area.

"The United Nations intends to continue to work closely with all parties in the coming period in a process to resolve the permanent status of Ghajar," Ban said, commending all sides for their continued commitment to resolution 1701 and stressed his determination and commitment to advance its full implementation.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams said that he and Major-General Alberto Asarta Cuevas, the Force Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), will make a visit to Israel early next week to further discuss the decision on Ghajar.

"I welcomed again today the expressions of continued commitment to the resolution. But I also warned that progress made so far could be undermined if the parties do not couple their reassertions of support with further concrete steps," Williams stated.

On Wednesday, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved the withdrawing of the IDF from Ghajar, but residents have expressed opposition to the decision. Around 400 people protested and vowed to no allow UN forces enter the village, which would force the southern part of the area to rearrange.

The village sits on disputed lands as it meets where Israeli, Syrian, and Lebanese borders cross.

If the village is separated, the social impact could be life-changing as families could be divided, while most villagers routinely spend time on both the north and south sides with the town's infrastructure, including schools and businesses, spreading out on both sides.

In 1967, Israeli captured the 2,000-person village from Syria, but in 2000, when it withdrew its forces from the southern Lebanon, the UN established the borderline between Lebanon and Israel in the middle of the village. While Israel maintained control of the southern part, after the 2006 war, the IDF regained control of the northern half.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-11-19

[geriatrickid]

The resolution also calls for respect for the Blue Line, the disarming of all militias operating in Lebanon and an end to arms smuggling in the area.

When will Hizbollah disarm? When will Hizbollah allow the Lebanese army to take up positions?

[sbk]

You know, this topic didn't go so well last time. I don't see it getting any better this time.

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