Israel denies reports it plans to pull out of northern Ghajar

Israel denies that it is planning a partial withdrawal from the divided northern village of Ghajar this week, as reported in the Saudi newspaper Okaz reported on Sunday.

According to the report, Israel Defense Forces troops will pull out from the northern part of Ghajar, a village which straddles Israel-Lebanon border.

The report also claims that Israel has destroyed IDF outposts in the northern part of the village captured during the Second Lebanon War.

Ghajar is home to Alawai Muslims, a Syrian sect. The village is divided by the international border - its southern half is part of the Golan Heights and its northern part is in Lebanon.

In 2005, Israel thwarted an attempt by Hezbollah militants who infiltrated through Ghajar to kidnap IDF soldiers. Since then, Israel has maintained a military presence in the area.

In March 2007, Israel's security-political cabinet authorized an agreement under which the IDF would withdraw from the northern section of Ghajar; its positions would be taken over by UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army, which would provide security.

Israel has said that any future consideration of the matter requires that the Lebanese government agree to it in writing.

According to the Saudi report on Sunday, if UNIFIL troops do successfully take over security in Ghajar, it could pave the way for a similar agreement over the contentious Shaba Farms region.

International sources have said they would like to see Israel withdraw from the border territory, a move the sources said would strengthen the government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.

	The northern part of Ghajar village (Yaron Kaminsky / Archives)