BICOM

Israel has complained to the UN Security Council about Hezbollah patrolling its border with Lebanon, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon wrote to the the Security Council to complain about Hezbollah occupying observation posts on the border between Israel and Lebanon. Danon cited an incident in April when a UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol was denied access to an observation post on the border that was flying the flag of the NGO “Green Without Borders”. Israel said the NGO is funded and operated on behalf of Hezbollah and presented photographs of the outposts and their locations. Israel has complained to UNIFIL on a number of occasions about Hezbollah operatives using border positions to carry out surveillance of Israeli positions on the other side of the border. According to UN Resolution 1701 only the Lebanese Army is authorised to patrol the border and occupy border positions.

Danon told the Security Council: “The well-documented proof of Hezbollah’s dangerous provocation verifies that Hezbollah conducts reconnaissance activity near the Blue Line and disguises it as civilian activity, in clear violation of UNSC resolutions 1701 and 1559.”

He added: “Hezbollah’s continued military buildup and destabilising activities in southern Lebanon have serious repercussions on both regional stability and the ability of the Lebanese government to effectively control its country.”

He urged the international community to not “turn a blind eye” to the infringements.

UNIFIL said it was investigating the incidents.

The Danon letter followed a heated exchange between IDF Deputy Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi and UNIFIL commander Maj. Gen. Michael Beary in the presence of US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley earlier this month. Kochavi said UNIFIL soldiers refused to to enter villages and towns in southern Lebanon where weapons and/or Hezbollah fighters are suspected of being present.

The Security Council adopted resolution 1701 on 11 August 2006, ending the Second Lebanon War. The resolution called on the Lebanese government, with the support of UNIFIL, to redeploy its army to the south of the country and disarm all armed groups in Lebanon.