What restrictions in this mandate prevent UNIFIL from fulfilling this mandate? The main restriction is the historic pro-Arab/anti-Israel stance of UNIFIL, and perhaps the fact that the Islamic terrorist group Hizbullah, which UNIFIL is supposed to hinder in deference to the Lebanese government, is an integral and probably the most powerful part of the Lebanese government. Hence UNIFIL fulfills its mandate by covering for Hizbullah while it re-arms and re-positions in preparation for another attack on Israel. This is the will of the Lebanese government, and Hizbullah is simply a branch of its army. As an arm of the UN, UNIFIL is tasked with carrying out UN policy in Lebanon, and its actions can be considered to be an indicator of UN policy, which favors aiding one nation to prepare for war against its neighbor, in furtherance of the political agendas of the UN.
UNIFIL’s actions have at various times and now as well, been so obviously partisan towards Lebanon and Hizbullah as to render the UN an entity allied against a member nation, Israel. The actions and inactions of UNIFIL in Lebanon and the partisan statements of the special UN rappateur to the Palestinians, Mr. Falk, are some of many ways the UN has betrayed its mandate and charter in regards to Israel, and rendered itself worse than useless, and its charter meaningless.
Haaretz – Israel on Wednesday issued a request to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to address Hezbollah’s violations of UN resolution 1701 south of the Litani River in Lebanon.
Foreign Ministry General Secretary Aharon Abramowitz met Monday in Jerusalem with UNIFIL commander Claudio Graziano and told him Israel expects UNIFIL to submit more extensive reports on the violations and to stop ignoring Hezbollah’s moves to repair their infrastructure in villages in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel.
Graziano responded “UNIFIL does not have proof of Hezbollah operations south of the Litani, and if Israel does have such intelligence, they are welcome to send it to us.” Graziano added that UNIFIL is doing all that it can to police Hezbollah, but is constrained by their rules of engagement in the field.
Graziano’s request came despite Israel’s repeated submissions to UNIFIL of intelligence detailing violations of UN resolution 1701 by Hezbollah.
Here is UNIFIL’s mandate, as quoted on the UNIFIL website:
According to Security Council resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978) of 19 March 1978, UNIFIL was established to:
* Confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon;
* Restore international peace and security;
* Assist the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area.According to Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) of 11 August 2006, UNIFIL, in addition to carrying out its mandate under resolutions 425 and 426, shall:
* Monitor the cessation of hostilities;
* Accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout the South, including along the Blue Line, as Israel withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon;
* Coordinate its activities referred to in the preceding paragraph (above) with the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel;
* Extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons;
* Assist the Lebanese armed forces in taking steps towards the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani river of an free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Government of Lebanon and of UNIFIL deployed in this area;
* Assist the Government of Lebanon, at its request, in securing its borders and other entry points to prevent the entry in Lebanon without its consent of arms or related materiel.By this resolution, the Council also authorized UNIFIL to take all necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces and as it deems within its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind; to resist attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council; and to protect United Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers and, without prejudice to the responsibility of the Government of Lebanon, to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence.
