Israel blamed the Lebanese group Hezbollah on Sunday for cease-fire violations, in an obvious try and deflect related accusations introduced in opposition to itself by the U.N. a day earlier.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that if the militants continued to breach the deal, Israel would “be forced to act,” after visiting the army’s northern command.
Earlier Saturday, the U.N. peacekeeping power in Lebanon accused Israel of a “flagrant violation” of the 2006 Security Council decision that types the premise of its November cease-fire with Hezbollah.
The assertion from the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) got here as Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem warned the group’s endurance with Israeli violations may run out earlier than the top of the cease-fire’s 60-day implementation timeframe.
The fragile truce, which took impact on Nov. 27, has been marked by mutual accusations of violations from each side.
“This morning, peacekeepers observed an (Israeli military) bulldozer destroying a blue barrel marking the line of withdrawal between Lebanon and Israel in Labbouneh, as well as an observation tower belonging to the Lebanese Armed Forces immediately beside a UNIFIL position there,” the peacekeeping power stated.
“The (military’s) deliberate and direct destruction of both clearly identifiable UNIFIL property and infrastructure belonging to the Lebanese Armed Forces is a flagrant violation of Resolution 1701 and international law.”
The power, which is represented on the panel overseeing the cease-fire’s implementation, known as on “all actors to avoid any actions, including the destruction of civilian property and infrastructure, that could jeopardize the cessation of hostilities.”
In an obvious try and deflect blame, Katz on Sunday stated Hezbollah had nonetheless not withdrawn “beyond the Litani river” in southern Lebanon, as stipulated within the cease-fire deal.
He added that “if this condition is not met, there will be no agreement and Israel will be forced to act on its own to ensure the safe return of residents of the north to their homes.”
Other provisions had not been carried out, Katz stated, such because the “dismantling of all (Hezbollah) weapons and the thwarting of … infrastructures in the area by the Lebanese army.”
“We will not allow the creation of a renewed threat to the northern communities and the citizens of the state of Israel,” Katz stated in an announcement issued by his workplace.
Under the phrases of the cease-fire, the Lebanese military is to deploy alongside U.N. peacekeepers within the south because the Israeli military withdraws over a 60-day interval.
Hezbollah is to withdraw its forces north of the Litani River – some 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border – and dismantle any remaining army infrastructure within the south.
In late December, the U.N. peacekeeping power expressed concern on the “continuing” injury being carried out by the Israeli army in south Lebanon.
Detailing its newest airstrikes in Lebanon on Thursday, the Israeli army stated it was appearing to take away any menace to Israel “in accordance with the cease-fire understandings.”
Qassem stated Hezbollah had determined to point out endurance, however warned that may not final indefinitely.
“We have said that we are giving an opportunity to prevent Israeli violations and to implement the agreement, and we will exercise patience,” he stated, stressing: “This does not mean that we will wait for 60 days.”
“The leadership of the resistance determines when to exercise patience, when to take initiative, and when to respond,” he stated.
Source: www.dailysabah.com