UNIFIL Denies Unusual Activity near Kfarkila as Israel Seeks to Construct Dividing Wall on Border

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon spokesman Neeraj Singh stated on Monday that the situation in southern Lebanon is calm and stable, reported the National News Agency.

He denied that any unusual activity was taking place in the South, particularly at Kfarkila.

Reports had emerged that Israel was constructing a concrete wall along the Blue Line adjacent to the town.

The UNIFIL spokesman added that an agreement had been reached on February 23 over Israel’s intention to construct the wall near the Blue Line.

Israel began preparations on Sunday to build a concrete wall of 800 meters in length on the border with Lebanon near Kfarkila after a crane placed several blocks in the area.

Israel informed UNIFIL that the building process will be launched on Wednesday, western sources told An Nahar daily published Monday.

But Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said the building will start next week.

The wall will cover an area between al-Abbara southeast of Kfarkila all the way to Fatima gate. It is expected to be as high as seven meters and will be topped by a one-meter high barbed wire.

A crane placed the concrete blocks in two stages assisted by troops in a Humvee near the technical fence off Kfarkila.

Israeli soldiers also conducted patrols along the border between Kfarkila and Adaisseh during the process, An Nahar said, adding that Lebanese troops and UNIFIL units monitored the Israeli activity on the other side of the boundary.

An Nahar said that several meetings have been held between the army and UNIFIL to coordinate their deployment and prevent any clash during the building of the wall.

On Monday, an Israeli military delegation in armored vehicles toured several areas near the barbed wire separating the two countries, mainly at the Fatima gate.

The officers were carrying maps, the NNA said.