As-Safir: UNIFIL’s Earlier Attitude Reflects Orientations of European Countries

Local Editor

Last week's confrontations between UNIFIL and the local population in the South were the culmination of a five-month course of events, since Spanish Major General Alberto Asarta took over UNIFIL's command. Since then, the UNIFIL has sought to operate independently from the Lebanese Army, reported As-Safir Lebanese Daily.

According to sources, Asarta is not the sole responsible for this autonomy drive, which rather reflects the orientations of European countries, especially France and Spain, in this respect, knowing that the two countries were the most vocal in their support for "Israel" over the past few months.

According to several relevant officials, French and Spanish officers have a positive attitude towards "Israel" when dealing with the local population, which led to a decreasing level of confidence between them.

According to the paper, the early premises of coordination emerged a couple days ago. Following the Touline confrontation, a meeting was held in the village between representatives of the town's municipal council, the Lebanese army, Hizbullah and UNIFIL.
Another meeting was held in the Ministry of Defense in Yarze between UNIFIL Commander Major General Alberto Asarta and Assistant LAF Intelligence Director Brigadier General Abbas Ibrahim.

On his part, Head of Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc MP Mohammad Raad asserted once again that UNIFIL does not have the right to go wherever it wants in Lebanon. Rather, it has to abide by resolution 1701 and always coordinate [its action] with the army.