Lebanon: UN Commander Holds More Talks on Securing Final Israeli Withdrawal
New York, Dec 11 2006 2:00PM
The head of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon today held yet further “productive” talks with senior
Lebanese and Israeli officers aimed at securing Israel’s full withdrawal from the last position it occupies in the south
of the country after the war with Hizbollah earlier this year.
“Progress has been made on this issue, and I hope that this will help pave the way for the full withdrawal of the IDF
from Lebanese territory,” UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Force Commander Major-General Alain Pellegrini said after
the meeting, referring to the Israeli Defence Forces.
He described the talks, which have been going on for two months over Israel’s withdrawal from the northern sector of
Ghajar village that is located inside Lebanese territory, as constructive and productive.
A complete Israeli withdrawal, together with Lebanese army deployment in southern Lebanon, is a key clause in Security
Council Resolution 1701, which ended 34 days of fighting in August and mandates strengthening UNIFIL to a maximum of
15,000 troops. Current strength is at about 10,500 on the ground and patrolling the coastline against arms smuggling.
ENDS