Israel Matzav

Hezbullah-controlled Lebanon looking for war trigger?

Hezbullah-controlled Lebanon is so wrong on this story that even UNIFIL has come out on Israel's side. Is Hezbullah looking for an excuse to go to war?

Israeli troops erected earth mounds and established a military post along the border with Lebanon in an area that oversees the Wazzani river zone of Muntazahat, the National News Agency reported Thursday.

Around three bulldozers, a dredger and 30 soldiers backed by four Merkava tanks and 3 Humvees began the operations in the early morning hours along the border that stretches from the Western side of Ghajar all the way to the al-Hamari.

The NNA said that the works carried out by the Israelis are in an area that Lebanon has expressed reservations over.

But the Jewish state and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon consider it in conformity with the U.N.-drawn Blue Line.

UNIFIL and the Lebanese army scrambled to the area and the military asked the peacekeepers to urge Israel to end the aggression, Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said.

But UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti told NNA that the mission was informed on Wednesday “by the Israeli army about its intention to carry out some works near Wazzani and UNIFIL immediately informed the Lebanese army about it.”

“During the Israeli works, UNIFIL soldiers and the Lebanese army were present there to monitor the situation and guarantee that there won’t be any violation of the Blue Line,” Tenenti said.

In the past, Lebanon has tried to divert water from the Hezbani and Wazzani rivers to make sure it doesn't reach Israel. Israel is being vigilant and according to UNIFIL, it's within its rights.

Ghajar, as you might recall, is the town that the blue line cuts in half. When it fell back into Israeli control a couple of years ago, the UN demanded that we return it to Hezbullah. But the residents don't want us to do that, so for now it's staying put.

Lebanon can express all the reservations they want, but either the area is over the blue line (which the UN certified in 2000) or it's not. And according to UNIFIL it's not.

Finally, one has to wonder whether Lebanon is looking to create another incident like two summers ago, or whether they are looking for a war. There aren't too many other logical explanations.

Labels: Lebanese Armed Forces, Lebanon, UNIFIL, water

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:59 PM