Despite an incident Sunday in which Israeli tanks forced their way into a UNIFIL peacekeeper base in southern Lebanon and ended up firing near the base, wounding a number of personnel, the UN has rejected Israeli calls to withdraw from the area.
The UN Security Council issued a statement expressing support for the UNIFIL monitoring mission, and affirmed that the troops will remain in the country, despite multiple calls from Israel’s Netanyahu government to leave.
The statement also called on all parties to respect the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and premises in Lebanon. They didn’t single Israel out in the statement, though all the reported attacks on UNIFIL targets in recent weeks have been from the Israeli side.
This has led to high profile statements from some substantial nations saying Israeli attacks on the UN peacekeepers has to cease at once. Despite reports of the incidents leaving little doubt that Israel is not complying with UNSC Resolution 1701, Israeli officials denied that they are deliberately attacking the UN troops.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, instead of commenting on the necessity to commit to not attacking the UNIFIL, issued another statement demanding that get out of “harm’s way” and arguing that the demand proves that they are not at war with UNIFIL.
The UNIFIL mission is meant to reduce violence in southern Lebanon and observe tensions on the Israel-Lebanon border. The mission’s mandate was substantially enhanced after the 2006 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, but seems to be little in the way of an obstacle to the most recent invasion.
Who can stand to listen to Netanyahu speak anymore?
I silence my system every time his hideous darkness fills the screen.
Was there ever a time?
He was always an insufferable smug phuck.
Indeed, Netanyahu's military attacks on the UN peacekeepers must stop at once.
If not, the UN General Assembly should vote to kick out Israel from the United Nations.
Oddly enough, I don't think any country should be kicked out of the UN.
Forbidden from holding any seat except theirs in the General Assembly, yes, but the UN needs to remain a place where all sides may speak, hear, and be heard.
The ASI envoy to the UN may not listen, but at least their seat remains theirs for when that day comes the Nation of Israel finds its humanity, and votes out the Apartheid State of Israel cancer in its capitol.
Just more victims to give Bibi a hard-on.
Demand all you want… Not gonna happen…!
He’s a liar. It’s a war against all humanity for imperialism.
It is the role of peacekeepers TO stand in harm's way. Specifically, between the harms intended by an aggressor and the civilians against whom the harm is intended.
i hope the UNIFIL troops are weapons-free to defend themselves against future assaults like the "barbaric attacks of Oct. 13th".
And after they kill the peacekeepers, then what? Strong words of condemnation and nothing else?
I’m sure the peacekeepers are operating under very strict rules of engagement that mostly prevent them from defending themselves. I will not personally be outraged when and if some of them decide their lives are more important than the rules and put some of their attackers down hard. At which point they’ll no doubt be accused of anti-semitism.
Thanks for that. I am this close to a primal scream.
Rwanda all over again.
Right now, the UNIFIL force needs to stand their ground. Someone needs to show the rest what is meant by courage. Nobody in the Biden administration seems to understand what that is.