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World Jewish News
UN troops to deploy in Lebanon border village if IDF withdraws
04.05.2009
Hundreds of United Nations peacekeepers could end up stationed in and around Ghajar to provide security after a future Israeli pullout from the village's northern half, under a plan prepared several months ago by the commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.
Maj. Gen. Claudi Graziano's plan, a copy of which has been obtained by Haaretz, was presented to Israeli officials in Jerusalem on March 5. Most of its elements appear to be acceptable to Israel's defense establishment.
The Israel-Lebanon border cuts Ghajar in two, and Israel Defense Forces troops occupied the northern half during the Second Lebanon War in 2006.
As Haaretz reported Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to ask the cabinet to approve a withdrawal from northern Ghajar - as mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the war - before flying to the United States in two weeks.
However, this necessitates security arrangements aimed at preventing terrorists from infiltrating Israel via Ghajar while not making life intolerable for the villagers. All Ghajar residents, in both halves, are Israeli citizens.
The plan would establish two lines of defense. The first, to be stationed inside northern Ghajar, would comprise 40 to 60 veteran UNIFIL soldiers in shifts of no more than 12 at a time. Each shift would also include civilian specialists.
In addition, a Lebanese Army liaison officer would be stationed in the village's northern half, while a UNIFIL liaison officer would be stationed in the southern section.
Soldiers' mandate
The UNIFIL soldiers' mandate in the village would be identical to their mandate in the rest of Lebanon. This means they could interfere if they witnessed a cease-fire violation, but could not conduct house-to-house searches to seize illegal arms or arrest terrorists.
A second, larger UNIFIL force would be stationed outside Ghajar, on the other side of a gate at the village's northern entrance. Only UNIFIL soldiers and the Lebanese liaison officer would be allowed through this gate, and any car that enters would be checked.
Under the plan, Israeli law would still apply in northern Ghajar, Israel would still supply both halves of the town with water, health services and schools, and all Ghajar residents would retain their Israeli citizenship.
At their meeting with Israeli officials in Jerusalem in March, UNIFIL representatives said they had no interest in letting northern Ghajar become a center of criminal activity and would work hard to prevent this.
By Barak Ravid
Источник: Haaretz
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