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A resident of the border village of Ghajar. (Yaron Kaminsky) Last update - 14:08 30/03/2008 UN wants UNIFIL in charge in Israel-Lebanon border town By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Ghajar, UNIFIL, Israel  The United Nations has proposed that UNIFIL troops take over security in the northern half of the border village of Ghajar, so that IDF forces can withdraw behind the Israel side of the international border. Israel has rejected this proposal and says any future consideration of the matter requires that the Lebanese government agree to it in writing. The new plan was presented to Israel during a number of meetings between UNIFIL officials and senior Israeli figures, including Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, who met last month with the commander of the UN forces in southern Lebanon, Major General Claudio Graziano. According to the UN plan, UNIFIL will assume control and full responsibility over security in the northern part of the village. It will also provide all necessary services to the residents there. Advertisement During his meeting with Ashkenazi, Graziano noted that details of the proposal have also been given to the Lebanese government and its armed forces. In its official response, Israel noted that the issue is not relevant at this stage, especially because Lebanon rejected a similar deal a year ago. In March 2007, Israel's security-political cabinet authorized an agreement under which the Israel Defense Forces would withdraw from the northern section of Ghajar; its positions would be taken over by UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army, which would provide security. According to Israel's proposal, Israel would continue to provide services to the village's civilian population. The Lebanese government rescinded the agreement and did not implement it, in part because of the political crisis in the country. Senior officials in Israel have since required as a precondition that any future discussion on the matter be accompanied by a signed, official agreement by the Lebanese government. Israeli officials are frustrated by the failures in implementing Security Council Resolution 1701 that ended the Second Lebanon War; they are specifically unhappy about the conduct of Hezbollah. Senior political sources in Jerusalem noted that "there is no intention to discuss the Ghajar issue as long as issues that trouble Israel are not being dealt with." As such, in addition to the official Israeli response on the UN proposal on Ghajar, a list of reasons for Israel's opposition to the new offer were included. Among the military reasons for Israel's rejection of the offer is that the IDF considers Ghajar to be a significant weak point in defenses along the northern border. In addition, the IDF considers Ghajar to be strategically important from an intelligence-gathering standpoint and its ability to foil Hezbollah attacks, particularly attempts to carry out kidnappings. The IDF also believes that even though UNIFIL is willing, and is operating in the area in force, the international force is not deployed in a way that would allow it to carry out the kind of complex operations required to ensure Israel's security. From a diplomatic point of view, Israel is dissatisfied with the way SC Resolution 1701 is being implemented, particularly in the way Hezbollah has been permitted to reinforce its position south of the Litani River and to continue smuggling weapons from Syria and Iran. The question of Ghajar is one of the last issues in which the UN has demands on Israel related to Resolution 1701, and there are concerns that if the matter is resolved the international community will lack the motivation to deal with the issues that trouble Israel. "After this is resolved, who will remember Hezbollah's smuggling?" a political source in Jerusalem said, adding that "the issue of Ghajar is bothering the UN and Lebanon, but it is a minor issue." Related articles: UN Secretary General condemns Katyusha fire on Shlomi Two UN peacekeepers lightly wounded by roadside blast in Lebanon IDF troops open fire, arrest suspected smugglers who infiltrated Israel Bookmark to del.icio.us   My land, my country Israeli Arabs mark 32nd Land Day in demonstrations across the country. One voice on Israel It's hard to find differences in U.S. candidates' promises on peace process.   1.   UN is Belligerent Party in Conflict 04:39  |  Straight Talk 30/03/08   2.   So Gajar bothers the Lebanese? Well, some issues bother us 05:02  |  Dan 30/03/08   3.   UN 05:21  |  Sheldon B. 30/03/08   4.   first UN must implement UNSCR 1701 06:37  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/03/08   5.   first UN must implement UNSCR 1701 07:29  |  Natallie Durson 30/03/08   6.   Can the UNO be trusted ? 08:28  |  Jean Van Daem 30/03/08   7.   #5, Durson, not borders 09:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/03/08   8.   So Israel is still occupying part of Lebanon? 10:26  |  Clickfool 30/03/08   9.   Ghajar 10:58  |  USA 30/03/08   10.   Clickfool - no Ghajar occupation is voluntary 11:00  |  Philip 30/03/08   11.   #7 11:00  |  USA 30/03/08   12.   Cipora Julianna Kohn - Nasrallah never said what you quoted 11:07  |  Philip 30/03/08   13.   Phillip #12 11:19  |  USA 30/03/08   14.   To # 8 and # 10 12:57  |  Palestine=Tibet 30/03/08   15.   U.N. CAN NOT be TRUSTED 10% of the time! 13:37  |  amy 30/03/08   16.   #12 - Philip repeats the wrong propaganda 14:05  |  JES 30/03/08   17.   #13 - USA 14:11  |  JES 30/03/08   18.   Barak response to UN 14:37  |  The Archives 30/03/08   19.   The man they love to hate 15:14  |  Natallie Durson 30/03/08   20.   JES - read my post carefully 16:57  |  Philip 30/03/08   21.   Arab-run media group to combat anti-Isreal Bias 17:58  |  Lepricon 30/03/08   22.   `USA` Hezbullah doesn`t protect Maronite Christians 19:19  |  Iz Ray Leigh 30/03/08   23.   #12. Philip 20:22  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/03/08   24.   Play safe Iz Ray Leigh 20:44  |  Lepricon 30/03/08   25.   #3, Sheldon 04:24  |  Tom M. 31/03/08   26.   #22 04:43  |  George 31/03/08   27.   To #17 and #22 15:50  |  USA 31/03/08   28.   to PHILLIP AND JES 15:55  |  USA 31/03/08   29.   to PHILLIP AND JES 15:55  |  USA 31/03/08   30.   PHILLIP and JESS 15:55  |  USA 31/03/08   31.   #27 - USA 18:11  |  JES 31/03/08

Today Online Settlers' council: We'll build with or without gov't okay Responses: 109 Yishai: Israel must negotiate with Hamas over Shalit release Responses: 83 Editorial: Peace talks, even on Jerusalem, must be secret Responses: 26 MK Swaid: Demolition of Arab homes will lead to an explosion Responses: 28 Rosner's Domain New Guest: Rabbis who don't officiate intermarriage should refer to rabbis who do Poll: What percentage of Jews will vote McCain? 38% for pressuring Palestinians, 25% for pressuring Israel (WTR) Can McCain get a boost from the new dovish Jewish lobby? More Headlines 18:19 Palestinian killed during stabbing attempt near West Bank settlement 18:20 PM to Shas: I'll authorize construction in Arab areas around Jerusalem 16:57 Rice: Israeli-PA talks on right track, peace deal possible in 2009 14:22 Barak: If Gaza calm continues, we'll mull easing border control 16:30 Norway tries suspects in 2006 shooting at main Oslo synagogue 14:37 Meshal: Shalit still alive; Yishai: We need swap talks with Hamas 18:22 Rights group demands gov't stop demolishing Bedouin homes 12:42 Once a week, the gift of human dignity 15:02 Third of Israelis so poor they must forgo some essential foods 17:39 Mazuz rejects call to indict Netanyahu over London spending spree 14:25 Cash-strapped Foreign Min. can't celebrate 60th anniversary abroad 14:57 For sale: Tel Aviv's most expensive flat, a steal at $34 million 01:29 Police: Bnei Brak has by far the highest rate of sexual offenses Previous Editions Select Day 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar

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