Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasizes the need to renew the UNIFIL mandate to safeguard southern Lebanon’s stability, following incidents of violence against UN peacekeepers. Meanwhile, Israel opposes this renewal, citing UNIFIL’s failures in curbing Hezbollah’s military build-up and questioning the organization’s relevance. The situation continues to escalate, revealing a complex battle between security needs and geopolitical positions in the region.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Abdallah Salim Salam has expressed Lebanon’s intent to renew the UNIFIL mandate, emphasizing its importance for stability in the region. Amid rising tensions in southern Lebanon, he condemned attacks on UN peacekeepers, warning that these actions jeopardize both security and peace. Salam insists it’s crucial to maintain calm along the southern borders and called for accountability concerning the assailants.
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry echoed this sentiment, denouncing a recent attack on a UNIFIL soldier, highlighting that protecting peacekeeping forces is imperative. The ministry urges that those responsible for such assaults be held accountable under both Lebanese and international law. This incident follows clashes between local residents and a UNIFIL patrol that strayed into areas lacking Lebanese army escort, signifying a growing rift between communities and the peacekeepers.
On June 11, Hajj Mohammad Raad, head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, met with French Presidential Envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian and Ambassador Hervé Magro. They discussed several political matters, including ongoing Israeli aggressions and the situation of UNIFIL forces. Le Drian also underscored France’s efforts to organize a conference for the reconstruction of southern Lebanon and extending UNIFIL’s mission.
From the Israeli perspective, opinions sharply contrast. In an analysis by Zoe Levornik and Sarit Zehavi from the Alma Center, they’ve pointed out that after the Second Lebanon War in 2006, the UNIFIL mandate has largely failed. They argue that Israel is justified in wanting to end UNIFIL operations in the region, claiming that the force has allowed Hezbollah to thrive unchallenged.
The article stresses that UNIFIL’s inability to prevent Hezbollah’s military buildup and rocket attacks into Israel points to a significant operational failure and even mentions how the group has utilized UNIFIL’s presence as a shield. The report recounts that Hezbollah has expanded its tunnel network without obstruction, arousing doubts about UNIFIL’s effectiveness and awareness of these developments.
Despite a ceasefire established on November 27, 2024, the authors argue that UNIFIL’s capabilities remain limited regarding Hezbollah’s activities. An American-French monitoring mechanism has been introduced to oversee compliance with ceasefire terms, but the Israelis argue that this has merely added to UNIFIL’s redundancy rather than enhancing its mission efficacy.
When questioned about its inefficacy, UNIFIL has reiterated that its role is primarily monitoring and providing humanitarian assistance, which raises questions about its overall contribution to security in the Israel-Lebanon context. Critics claim that if humanitarian efforts are the core mission, perhaps such roles would be better suited to specialized UN agencies dedicated to aid.
Ultimately, the dilemma seems rooted in a lack of willingness from UNIFIL to proactively fulfill its peacekeeping duties. Over time, it has had opportunities to establish a more impactful presence, especially given continual warnings from Israel about Hezbollah’s military advancements. Without concrete action, there’s skepticism that renewing UNIFIL’s mandate will yield any significant change to enhance stability in southern Lebanon.
Regarding the potential for reforming UNIFIL’s approach, many observers are doubtful. They question if the presence is even relevant anymore for maintaining security for both Israel and Lebanon, considering its history of inaction and the complex geopolitical realities on the ground.
In summary, tensions are escalating regarding the future of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon as Lebanon expresses strong support for its renewal amidst Israeli calls for its termination. The divergent perspectives highlight a deepening rift between local and international forces. Without tangible actions to address the situation, skepticism around UNIFIL’s effectiveness continues to grow, raising concerns about regional stability going forward.
Original Source: www.agcnews.eu
