UNIFIL Urges Israel to Stop Building Wall, Lebanese Officials Discuss Violations
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) demanded Israel to stop the building of a wall along the Lebanese-Israeli border after the Israelis removed the barbed wire without putting back any barriers, the National News Agency reported on Monday.
The UNIFIL informed the Israelis that the building of the wall can resume after restoring the barriers along the Fatima Gate in southern Lebanon.
Specialized peacekeeping units arrived at the scene and placed isolators along the Israeli construction part.
The Lebanese army swiftly took precautionary measures, voicing its objection against any attempts by Israel to cross the Lebanese border and build the wall on its territories.
Media reports said on Friday that the Lebanese army withdrew from its points near the Fatima Gate in Kfar Kila after Israel crossed the Lebanese border in building the wall.
The army demanded UNIFIL to urge the Israelis to retreat after clearly violating U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701.
President Michel Suleiman tackled with Prime Minister Najib Miqati at the Baabda Palace the recent incidents along the Lebanese-Israeli border.
The meeting was held in the presence of Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour and a number of security and military officials.
Last week, the Israeli military began building the wall that will run several kilometers along part of its border with Lebanon.
The Israeli public radio said the wall would be several meters high and intended to protect the Israeli border town of Metulla from fire coming from the Lebanese side. It is expected to take several weeks to build.
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