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Last update - 09:04 29/10/2009
Spain fuming after Netanyahu asks Italy to retain control of UNIFIL
By Barak Ravid
Tags: UNIFIL, Italy, Spain 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has secretly asked Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to keep his country in charge of the United Nations force in Lebanon rather than handing control to Spain as planned, causing chagrin in Madrid.

The issue, which has turned into a serious diplomatic incident, was expected to feature prominently in talks between Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Spanish officials this week. It appears that Barak, who left for Spain on Sunday to discuss bilateral diplomatic and security-related ties, needs to provide a solid explanation for Israel's request if he is to avert a full-blown crisis.

In making the request of Italy earlier this month, Netanyahu sided with the Israel Defense Forces' argument that Israel should make an effort to keep Italy's Major General Claudio Graziano in charge of the UN Interim Force in Lebonon for at least another six months beyond the scheduled end of his term in a few weeks. The IDF said that though there was no problem with Spanish command of UNIFIL in general, the situation in Lebanon is very sensitive at this time and replacing the UNIFIL commander now is liable to cause difficulties in coordination and destabilize the situation.
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The Foreign Ministry, however, said Israel should not get involved in the planned change in command, so as not to insult the major European countries that take part in UNIFIL - Italy, France and Spain, which are due to decide shortly who will be the next commander - and to avoid unnecessary friction. The ministry also said the issue involved a political struggle among the European countries that revolves around their international reputations and their roles in the Afghanistan war.

A Spanish diplomat questioned Israel's argument, asking in a conversation with Haaretz: "What does a 'sensitive period in Lebanon' mean? When isn't there tension in Lebanon? What kind of argument is this?"

Spanish officials were also angered by the initial concealment of the conversation between Netanyahu and Berlusconi, a lack of coordination between the Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign Ministry and the wrong messages the Spanish government received.

Netanyahu adopted the IDF perspective, but kept his request discreet. However, it was so discreet that the Foreign Ministry didn't know what was going on. Italy told Spain that the Israelis, along with the Lebanese and the Americans, wanted to extend the Italian command of UNIFIL by six months. But when Spanish officials asked the Foreign Ministry for clarification, they got the wrong information because of the lack of internal Israeli coordination.

When the Spanish ambassador to Israel, Alvaro Iranzo, asked Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon to clarify the Israeli request, Ayalon - who had never been informed of Netanyahu's conversation with Berlusconi - denied that Israel was getting involved in the UNIFIL transfer of power. Israeli representatives in Madrid and the United Nations were instructed to make similar statements.
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  1.   It doesn`t really matter whether they are under Italian...... 09:33  |  Swiss (Dino) 29/10/09
  2.   to dino 09:52  |  Also a swiss Citizen 29/10/09
  3.   #1. Dino. It seems that it does matter. 10:12  |  Stephen. 29/10/09
  4.   Spain Must be Sorry 10:17  |  Walid 29/10/09
  5.   To Dino 10:27  |  CatYouSha 29/10/09
  6.   # 2 Thanks very much, I know, I know...:) 10:41  |  Swiss (Dino) 29/10/09
  7.   Israel a state of luxury and wealth 10:43  |  Axel 29/10/09
  8.   Spain has a proven track record with UNIFIL. 10:46  |  Daniel Garcia. 29/10/09
  9.   Liars 11:05  |  esqueleto 29/10/09
  10.   It doesn`t to Dino 11:15  |  Ki`emli 29/10/09
  11.   Another reason? 11:15  |  B. Gold 29/10/09
  12.   Spanish have shown their Anti-Semitic Position 11:19  |  John Q. Public 29/10/09
  13.   Ayalon simply lied, that`s the story 11:33  |  Marteen 29/10/09
  14.   Dino??? 11:34  |  John Spear 29/10/09
  15.   Wow, Bibi should really write the follow-up to.... 11:36  |  adiestubbs 29/10/09
  16.   Goverment of Israel 11:51  |  sick and tired 29/10/09
  17.   Very well said Daniel Garcia 11:55  |  Mario 29/10/09
  18.   It matters to Israel 11:56  |  Ki`emli 29/10/09
  19.   To #7 -- I was in Spain a few years ago 12:10  |  Josh 29/10/09
  20.   Italy performed badly in Afghanistan ... 12:12  |  AB 29/10/09
  21.   Amused 12:14  |  harvey 29/10/09
  22.   Is Israel in charge? 12:16  |  Ishmael 29/10/09
  23.   Does it matter which country is in charge of watching Hezb rearm. 12:34  |  PETER SM 29/10/09
  24.   Does it matter which country is in charge of watching Hezb rearm. 12:34  |  PETER SM 29/10/09
  25.   Spain is an untrustworthy Dhimmi nation 13:13  |  Mongo 29/10/09
  26.   # 6 Daniel Garcia. 13:15  |  David Nigel Braham 29/10/09
  27.   Daniel Garcia ,Spanish "combat experience" 13:26  |  Absolute Sweden 29/10/09
  28.   Josh #17 13:32  |  Froy 29/10/09
  29.   To Dino 14:09  |  Jackie 29/10/09
  30.   to #23 14:53  |  Juge 29/10/09
  31.   There we go again 15:08  |  Ruben M 29/10/09
  32.   Spanish in Lebanon are pro Hezbollah 15:24  |  Ruben 29/10/09
  33.   It`s Not Israelis` Call 15:28  |  Stephen 29/10/09
  34.   #29 your post shows how clueless you 15:32  |  Ardi 29/10/09
  35.   Spain recently helped bust Israeli spies in Lebanon... 15:35  |  Ruben 29/10/09
  36.   Spanish UNIFIL helping to arrest Israeli spies 15:36  |  Ruben 29/10/09
  37.   just recognition of spanish anti semitism 15:43  |  bernard ross 29/10/09
  38.   #37 05:06  |  allan 30/10/09
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