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Last update - 09:00 17/10/2008
UN Chief urges Hezbollah and Israel to halt mutual threats
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Hezbollah, UN, Ban Ki-moon 

A report released Thursday by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described Hezbollah as a threat to Middle East security, and called for both the Lebanese militant group and Israel to stop threatening each other through the media.

The report, sent to the members of the UN Security Council, also criticized Syria for allowing weapons smuggling to Lebanese militias.

Ban's report deals with Security Council Resolution 1559 of September 2004, drafted by UN Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen, which called for Syria's military withdrawal from Lebanon as well as Hezbollah's disarmament.
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Following the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, rumored to have been carried out with Syrian involvement, Syrian forces withdrew from Lebanon after decades of occupation.

That resolution formed the foundation for Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War between Israel and Hezbollah.

Ban's report indicates that Hezbollah continues to maintain a militia separate from the Lebanese government.

"Hezbollah's maintenance of a major armed component and a para-military infrastructure separate from the state, including a secure network of communication, which the group itself deems an integral part of its arsenal, is a direct challenge to the authority of the government of Lebanon and its security forces and prevents their exclusive control over the entire territory of Lebanon," said the report.

"I therefore reiterate my call on Hezbollah to comply with all relevant Security Council resolutions, and urge all parties which maintain close ties with Hezbollah and have the ability to influence it, in particular Syria and Iran, to support its transformation into a political party proper," it said.

The report also cited the "the urgency and importance of ensuring that the Government has the monopoly on the use of force in Lebanon."

Ban also leveled criticism at the remarks made by GOC Northern Command Gadi Eisenkot to the daily Yedioth Ahronoth several weeks ago regarding the Israel Defense Forces' plans to use "disproportionate force" should war again break out with Lebanon or Hezbollah.

In response, senior Hezbollah figures told the media the organization would respond forcefully to any Israeli attack.

"I am disturbed by the repeated exchanges of threats, through the media, between Israel and Hezbollah. I urge all parties to cease this public discourse, which creates anxiety among civilian populations on both sides," he said.

Regarding weapons smuggling from Syria to Lebanon, Ban said, "Preventing breaches of the arms embargo is a critical element for strengthening Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence. I remain concerned by the general porosity of the Syrian-Lebanese border."

The UN secretary general also criticized Israel for its continued overflights on Lebanese territory, which Jerusalem states are necessary for security reasons.

He also stated that in recent weeks the Lebanese army transferred a significant number of troops from the Israeli border to the north of the country due to the increasing activity of international Islamic extremist groups in the coastal city of Tripoli.

"I am gravely concerned by the emergence and apparent strengthening of extremist elements and foreign fighters based largely in and around Tripoli. This phenomenon is but another challenge to the consolidation of the government's authority," he said.


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      1.   Ban:"hezbullah threat to security" 02:17  |  Arie 17/10/08
      2.   BAN KI-MOON is either stupid or bribed 03:29  |  VIPER 17/10/08
      3.   COMPLAIN to the organ grinder not the dancing monkey 03:33  |  PETER SM 17/10/08
      4.   Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Is Too Late 04:17  |  Jeff Northridge 17/10/08
      5.   Hezbollah 04:34  |  Michael 17/10/08
      6.   It will never happen 05:26  |  Tom 17/10/08
      7.   Syrian duplicity 05:40  |  Morris Valentine 17/10/08
      8.   `Mutual`? There is nothing mutual here 06:46  |  Dan 17/10/08
      9.   We are warning them for their own good Be Thankful 06:53  |  Dan 17/10/08
      10.   VIPER, but did you read 1701? 06:57  |  Dan 17/10/08
      11.   Jeff Northridge, Hezbo terrorists are part of Lebanese army? 07:03  |  Dan 17/10/08
      12.   Lebanon. 07:30  |  Jean Van Daem 17/10/08
      13.   Viper, 1701 and what`s in the water in Aussie anyway? 07:41  |  Joe Sittizen 17/10/08
      14.   #7, MV, "Syrian duplicity" 08:25  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/10/08
      15.   yeah DAN bye bye Hezbo is an old word don`t u think 08:50  |  bilal 17/10/08
      16.   # 2, VIPER 09:24  |  indrajaya 17/10/08
      17.   if israel is realy stronger than hizbollah 09:33  |  moody 17/10/08
      18.   #7 MV-know preconditions-no peace 10:18  |  Roo 17/10/08
      19.   #4 Jeff Northridge-who hasn`t read the article 10:21  |  Roo 17/10/08
      20.   "Disproportionate force" has been tried and has failed in Lebanon 10:42  |  Natallie Durson 17/10/08
      21.   To Woody #17 12:00  |  Rafi 17/10/08
      22.   I agree, stop building up the psychological warfare 13:48  |  Edith 17/10/08
      23.   piper and tune. 14:02  |  khairi janbek 17/10/08
      24.   Ban demands disarmament of Hezbolla 14:03  |  Realist 17/10/08
      25.   HAVE SOME SYMPATHY FOR HIM 14:04  |  Ian 17/10/08
      26.   Dan # 11 It Was Reported In Haaretz For Days 14:35  |  Jeff Northridge 17/10/08
      27.   Hezb should listen cerfully this time 15:01  |  Yosi 17/10/08
      28.   Defending Israel 16:06  |  Liz 17/10/08
      29.   Natallie Durson USA 16:08  |  Pamela 17/10/08
      30.   Is there a State of Lebanon? 18:16  |  Yonatan 17/10/08
      31.   Viper #2 not as stupid as you 18:35  |  Golani 17/10/08
      32.   bilal #15 it was hesbullah that was crying and whining like two 18:44  |  terrornator 17/10/08
      33.   moody #17 if hesbullah would meet israel on the battlefield like 18:47  |  terrornator 17/10/08
      34.   pamela,don`t confuse natallie durston with a real american,just 18:58  |  terrornator 17/10/08
      35.   TERRORNATOR: GO TO YOUTUBE 20:37  |  BigBadJohn 17/10/08
      36.   haaretz comes through again 20:57  |  Arie 17/10/08
      37.   Cipora Julianna Kohn-#14 06:58  |  Daniel Leopold 18/10/08
      38.   #13, JOE SITTIZEN, read from the hasbarah handbook 07:36  |  VIPER 18/10/08
      39.   #31, GOLANI, i WILL have the last laugh 07:41  |  VIPER 18/10/08
      40.   #37, Daniel Leopold 08:57  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/10/08
      41.   Viper and Indy 14:21  |  the truth 18/10/08
      42.   Israel is on par with a terrorist group... lol 15:33  |  POP 18/10/08
      43.   VIPER Australia does not regard Hezballa and Hamas as innocents 15:35  |  PETER SM 18/10/08
      44.   BIG B.J. what did Hezb. do?? Lose 500 men !! 15:47  |  PETER SM 18/10/08
      45.   UN "stop name calling" but Ignores Hizbollah Violations 18:28  |  Baruch Gold 18/10/08
      46.   big mouth john,i went to youtube and low and behold,the video you 18:45  |  terrornator 18/10/08
      47.   Well I mean if he urges... 23:33  |  Helm of Chelm 18/10/08
      48.   Again the antisemites even disagree with the UN 09:28  |  David Teich 19/10/08
      49.   Viper is as clueless as usual 09:31  |  David Teich 19/10/08
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