[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is no man's fool.
He knows full well that the UNIFIL force is best termed the "United Nations
Interim Farce In Lebanon."
He knows full well that UNIFIL has studiously avoided interfering with
Hizbullah's deployment in south Lebanon.
And he knows that UNIFIL's failure is 99.9% due to the interest of the
UNIFIL commanders and their bosses at the UN to avoid conflict with
Hizbullah and other interests and 0.1% can be attributed to the wording of
UNIFIL's mandate.
And he also knows that Israeli monitoring activity is considered by UNIFIL,
and in turn the UN, to be just as serious a problem (if not more) that the
activities of Hizbullah.
Yet despite all this, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is apparently about
to propose to rely on arrangements that rely on international forces in
Ghajar.
This departure from reality raises concerns that go far beyond the Jewish
State's security concerns on our northern border.
Simply put: If Prime Minister Netanyahu is apparently willing to ignore
reality to facilitate withdrawal from Ghajar, what confidence can we have
that he won't pull the very same stunt in the West Bank? After all, Mr.
Netanyahu has cited security as the overarching condition for the creation
of an independent Palestinian state.
So if and when the formal announcement is made of Israel's proposal it is
critical that we look well beyond the headlines.
Reassurances that the arrangements are backed by secret protocols or
unpublished side letters just won't do the trick.]
Netanyahu to inform UN of expected withdrawal from northern Ghajar
UN Resolution 1701 requires Israel to cease all operations north of its
border with Lebanon, including its withdrawal from the northern side of the
disputed village.
Published 01:46 07.11.10 Haaretz
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-to-inform-un-of-expected-withdrawal-from-northern-ghajar-1.323335
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to inform United Nations
Secretary General Ban-ki Moon of Israel's intent withdraw from a disputed
village on the border with Lebanon, a government official told Haaretz on
Saturday.
The international border between Israel and Lebanon runs through the middle
of the village of Ghajar, and according to UN Resolution 1701, which ended
the Second Lebanon War, required Israel to cease all operations north of the
border, with an emphasis on military operations.
Israel has also been told by the United States and the United Nations that
now that the Saad Hariri government has been established in Lebanon,
Israel's withdrawal from Ghajar will help bring stability to the northern
border and strengthen Hariri's moderate camp, as it can present an Israeli
withdrawal as a first, speedy accomplishment.
According to senior government officials speaking with Haaretz on Saturday,
Netanyahu is expected to meet the UN chief on Monday, at which time he will
update the secretary general of his intent to bring the matter before the
cabinet.
The PM will present the Israeli plan for withdrawal from Ghajar's northern
side, one which has been discussed with the commander of the United Nations
Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) in recent months.
Netanyahu is scheduled to depart Israel for the United States late Saturday
night ahead of his planned address at the annual Jewish Federations of North
America General Assembly in New Orleans.
The premier is not expected to meet U.S. President Barack Obama, as Obama is
on an official visit to India, and is instead scheduled to meet Vice
President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is no man's fool.
He knows full well that the UNIFIL force is best termed the "United Nations
Interim Farce In Lebanon."
He knows full well that UNIFIL has studiously avoided interfering with
Hizbullah's deployment in south Lebanon.
And he knows that UNIFIL's failure is 99.9% due to the interest of the
UNIFIL commanders and their bosses at the UN to avoid conflict with
Hizbullah and other interests and 0.1% can be attributed to the wording of
UNIFIL's mandate.
And he also knows that Israeli monitoring activity is considered by UNIFIL,
and in turn the UN, to be just as serious a problem (if not more) that the
activities of Hizbullah.
Yet despite all this, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is apparently about
to propose to rely on arrangements that rely on international forces in
Ghajar.
This departure from reality raises concerns that go far beyond the Jewish
State's security concerns on our northern border.
Simply put: If Prime Minister Netanyahu is apparently willing to ignore
reality to facilitate withdrawal from Ghajar, what confidence can we have
that he won't pull the very same stunt in the West Bank? After all, Mr.
Netanyahu has cited security as the overarching condition for the creation
of an independent Palestinian state.
So if and when the formal announcement is made of Israel's proposal it is
critical that we look well beyond the headlines.
Reassurances that the arrangements are backed by secret protocols or
unpublished side letters just won't do the trick.]
Netanyahu to inform UN of expected withdrawal from northern Ghajar
UN Resolution 1701 requires Israel to cease all operations north of its
border with Lebanon, including its withdrawal from the northern side of the
disputed village.
Published 01:46 07.11.10 Haaretz
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-to-inform-un-of-expected-withdrawal-from-northern-ghajar-1.323335
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to inform United Nations
Secretary General Ban-ki Moon of Israel's intent withdraw from a disputed
village on the border with Lebanon, a government official told Haaretz on
Saturday.
The international border between Israel and Lebanon runs through the middle
of the village of Ghajar, and according to UN Resolution 1701, which ended
the Second Lebanon War, required Israel to cease all operations north of the
border, with an emphasis on military operations.
Israel has also been told by the United States and the United Nations that
now that the Saad Hariri government has been established in Lebanon,
Israel's withdrawal from Ghajar will help bring stability to the northern
border and strengthen Hariri's moderate camp, as it can present an Israeli
withdrawal as a first, speedy accomplishment.
According to senior government officials speaking with Haaretz on Saturday,
Netanyahu is expected to meet the UN chief on Monday, at which time he will
update the secretary general of his intent to bring the matter before the
cabinet.
The PM will present the Israeli plan for withdrawal from Ghajar's northern
side, one which has been discussed with the commander of the United Nations
Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) in recent months.
Netanyahu is scheduled to depart Israel for the United States late Saturday
night ahead of his planned address at the annual Jewish Federations of North
America General Assembly in New Orleans.
The premier is not expected to meet U.S. President Barack Obama, as Obama is
on an official visit to India, and is instead scheduled to meet Vice
President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il
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