Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., September 03, 2008 Elul 3, 5768 | | Israel Time: 13:55 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 22:14 01/09/2008
Israel to U.S.: We're ready to quit Lebanon border village
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Ghajar, UNIFIL, Lebanon 

Israel told the United States on Sunday it was prepared to withdraw from the northern part of Ghajar on the Lebanese border, a change in its policy for the past year and a half of not wanting to discuss the issue. A government source in Jerusalem said the decision was made after the Lebanese government delivered written assurances that UNIFIL would be given security and civilian control over the northern part of the village, which is in Lebanese territory.

"The Americans have been asking us for a long time to move ahead on the Lebanon issue and after receiving the letter, it was decided to show a more positive stance," the source also said, referring to the written assurances by Lebanon.

The Israel Defense Forces Planning Branch and the Northern Command are now at work on the details of the withdrawal from the northern part of Ghajar.
Advertisement
Ghajar, located between the Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights, was annexed to Israel in 1981 together with the Golan Heights, and its inhabitants received Israeli citizenship. After the IDF's withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, the UN determined that the border between Israel and Syria crossed the village, and that Israel, which holds the Golan Heights, could operate only in the southern part of the village. However, according to the UN, the IDF frequently operates in the northern part of the village, beyond the international border.

In recent years the village has become a center for smuggling and infiltration of criminal elements from Lebanon to Israel, along with Hezbollah agents.

According to Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the Second Lebanon War, Israel was to have withdrawn its forces from the northern part of Ghajar.

In March 2007, the security cabinet approved a deal whereby the IDF would cease its operations in the northern part of the village, giving the UN and Lebanese army forces responsibility for security and leaving civilian affairs in Israel's hands. However, Beirut did not implement the agreement, among other things because of its political crisis. Israel has since refused to discuss the matter and conditioned agreement on a written pledge by the Lebanese government to a new arrangement.

UNIFIL had transmitted a number of drafts to Israel, which it has rejected.

About two weeks ago Israel gave an official letter to UNIFIL commander General Claudio Graziano, stating that it accepts UN security and civilian control over the northern part of the village.

Related articles:
  • Israel denies reports it plans to pull out of northern Ghajar
  • UN wants UNIFIL in charge in Israel-Lebanon border town
  • A village divided
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Turning a blind eye
    Ex-Mossad agent Rafi Eitan: We let Nazi doctor Mengele get away.
    Aloha Republicans
    Hawaii's first Jewish governor says Palin is more experienced than Obama.
      1.   Olmert will destroy everything before leaving 04:04  |  Frank 01/09/08
      2.   Again Israel proves that it wants peace 04:32  |  Doc Holliday 01/09/08
      3.   Will this change anything???? 04:48  |  David G 01/09/08
      4.   Just to point out something here 04:57  |  Johnboy 01/09/08
      5.   What the hell! 05:08  |  Jon 01/09/08
      6.   Re:Olmert will destroy everything before leaving 05:11  |  Jason 01/09/08
      7.   Let them have the whole village 06:29  |  Avi 01/09/08
      8.   Olmert thinks 60 years is enough, for Israel to exist!! 07:00  |  Avram 01/09/08
      9.   as far as i know..... 07:09  |  kamal 01/09/08
      10.   Gajar citizens not exactly thirilled about this 07:12  |  Dan 01/09/08
      11.   Can the UNO be trusted ? 07:17  |  Jean Van Daem 01/09/08
      12.   might be a smart move 07:27  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/09/08
      13.   Another Proof Hezbollah defeated Israel 07:32  |  Mohamad from Lebanon 01/09/08
      14.   MORE RETREAT.....OLMERT the CRONY MUST LEAVE NOW!!!! 07:34  |  Yoni 01/09/08
      15.   Relieved... 07:58  |  Esther 01/09/08
      16.   #4 - Just to clarify, Johnboy 08:01  |  JES 01/09/08
      17.   Avi, It`s Not Israel`s to Give Away. 08:13  |  Reader 01/09/08
      18.   kamal 08:49  |  alan 01/09/08
      19.   An Other Political Victory for Nassarallah-Hezbanon 08:55  |  Joseph.E 01/09/08
      20.   Now the only obstacle is Shaaba farms 09:14  |  Natallie Durson 01/09/08
      21.   Olmertt has NO MANDATE..... 09:15  |  Pathfinder 01/09/08
      22.   Where are the US warships? 09:21  |  Maureen Ann 01/09/08
      23.   Olmert refuses to let go...... 09:26  |  Dolly 01/09/08
      24.   No Good will ever come our of this man Olmert 09:30  |  Onlooker 01/09/08
      25.   Assurances is just that..... Assurances without 09:32  |  The Archives 01/09/08
      26.   Be ready for much more - reality catch up Israeli bubble 09:35  |  isaac 01/09/08
      27.   Which means Israel will stay put 09:40  |  Clickfool 01/09/08
      28.   Re Avram #8... 09:44  |  Esther 01/09/08
      29.   UNIFIL is scared of Hesballah.The UN has lied for them 10:28  |  PETER SM 01/09/08
      30.   READER then it has nothing to do with Lebanon & Hesballah does it 10:39  |  PETER SM 01/09/08
      31.   Alternate universe news: We`re ready to consider leaving N Ghajar 10:49  |  Natallie Durson 01/09/08
      32.   CFOOL Its Lebanese territory is it?What else do you know for sure 10:51  |  PETER SM 01/09/08
      33.   Another stupid movement likes disengagement from Gaza 10:53  |  e.m Jordan is Palse 01/09/08
      34.   #22 the clucking fool and his clouded over mirror 11:03  |  vhardman 01/09/08
      35.   NATALIE Parrallel universe.We believe the UN 11:04  |  PETER SM 01/09/08
      36.   #8 Avram, Ghagar is not part of Israel 11:05  |  Tzfonit 01/09/08
      37.   So Israel didn`t comply with 425 after all! 11:15  |  Raymond Deane 01/09/08
      38.   Response: #13 11:23  |  M. Schultheissen 01/09/08
      39.   #30, 32 PETER SM displays his ignorance. 11:56  |  Johnboy 01/09/08
      40.   Peter SM waves a meaningless Israeli Law # 32 12:35  |  Clickfool 01/09/08
      41.   To Mohammad from Lebanon - `Zions`..... 12:52  |  Dagma 01/09/08
      42.   Excellent departure from confrontation, and towards peace 13:07  |  Ivar 01/09/08
      43.   Giving up to Lebanon is not giving in to Hezbo 13:37  |  Jo 01/09/08
      44.   No real security but it will give them no excuses 13:40  |  De 01/09/08
      45.   #34 boris now becomes the legal fool and decides what is law 13:53  |  vhardman 01/09/08
      46.   Not a day to soon, now the Sheba Farms 13:53  |  Justine Flipp 01/09/08
      47.   Is this a Preliminary to Olmert giving the Golan to Syria 14:04  |  Dagma 01/09/08
      48.   I wish the only obstacle was war mongering Arabs and Persians 14:13  |  Avi 01/09/08
      49.   CFOOL waves his ignorance,nothing to do with Israeli law. 14:15  |  PETER SM 01/09/08
      50.   Have Israeli Leaders not learnt their Lesson yet 14:25  |  Dolly 01/09/08
      51.   with Leb NO LAND FOR PEACE 14:37  |  Imad 01/09/08
      52.   JUSTINE FLIP.Which UN map shows Sheba as part of Lebanon? 14:38  |  PETER SM 01/09/08
      53.   JOHNBOY a whole page of nothing! Is it Lebanese or Syrian? 14:41  |  PETER SM 01/09/08
      54.   This is what happens when criminals are caught 14:44  |  Arie 01/09/08
      55.   Peter you dont know the difference betwen ICJ and ICHJ 15:18  |  Labhras 01/09/08
      56.   #13;Mohamed fro Leb; and #51;Imad, the proof.... 15:26  |  Doc Holliday 01/09/08
      57.   about time 15:39  |  ravi 01/09/08
      58.   petersm and his legal prowess 15:54  |  Labhras 01/09/08
      59.   #39 - Once again, sonny 16:02  |  JES 01/09/08
      60.   #53 Well, that`s a simple question to answer 16:02  |  Johnboy 01/09/08
      61.   much ado about what? 16:09  |  Fair 01/09/08
      62.   #16 Do you even read your links, JES? 16:10  |  Johnboy 01/09/08
      63.   #13 mohammed from lebanon 16:13  |  John Allen 01/09/08
      64.   #13 mohammed from lebanon 16:13  |  John Allen 01/09/08
      65.   #22 Maureen Ann 16:17  |  John Allen 01/09/08
      66.   #32. Thanks for the great information. 16:21  |  John Allen 01/09/08
      67.   Your answer, JES 16:31  |  Murray 01/09/08
      68.   For Peter SM # 49 16:45  |  Clickfool 01/09/08
      69.   I´m start understand Olmert´s plans 16:50  |  JP 01/09/08
      70.   to Mo from lebanon , in your dreams.