Eyeing UNIFIL, “Israel” meddles in Lebanese affairs

Rasha Hassan, 4-11-2009

The "Israeli" government's hypocrisy regarding UN Resolution 1701 escalates and it no longer elicits any notion of surprise among the Lebanese. It has become an all too familiar occurrence since such violations take place on a daily basis by land, air and sea.

In addition, "Israel" informed the United Nations of its intention to continue espionage activities in Lebanon; furthermore it boldly expressed demands to keep the current commander of UNIFIL Claudio Graziano in his post, which is a clear meddling in UNIFIL's regulations as well as internal Lebanese issues.

Italy currently commands UNIFIL and has over 2000 peacekeepers serving with a mission supervising a fragile peace along the border between Lebanon and occupied Palestine.
Graziano's term is due to end in a few weeks, with Spain slated to take over.

But this issue has created mounting controversy as "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pressed on the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to keep the current Italian command.
In a related development, President Giorgio Napoletano arrived in Beirut, leading an official Italian delegation attended a dinner banquet thrown in his honor at the presidential palace, he also held talks with President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace.

The Italian president said his country will not back down from its commitment for a comprehensive and just peace in the region..

President Napoletano later visited UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura on Tuesday, during which he met with UNIFIL General Commander Claudio Graziano who informed him of UNIFIL's operations in the South and filled him in on the latest security incidents.

At the time the suspicious international silence continues to reign when "Israel" is concerned, the "Israelis" found themselves encouraged to directly meddle in the Lebanese issues.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week called Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and asked him to try to keep the current commander of UNIFIL Claudio Graziano in his post," an "Israeli" official said.

"Israeli" daily Haaretz said Netanyahu's move turned into a serious diplomatic incident, with Spain likely to take up the issue during talks with visiting "Israeli" Defense Minister Ehud Barak this week.

Haaretz also quoted "Israeli" military sources as expressing satisfaction regarding the relation with Graziano.

The "Israeli" military wanted Netanyahu to press Italy to keep Graziano in his post for at least another six months, disregarding the possibility of insulting any of the major European countries participating in UNIFIL -- France, Italy and Spain.

If real progress is to be made in this dispute, it is time European countries to view "Israel's" actions through the same lens as they do its enemy's.

UNIFIL has some 13,000 troops from various countries stationed in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL's mandate is under the spotlight once again as a report on the implementation of resolution 1701 is set to be released in a few days time.