Ban's Report Doesn't Determine Shebaa as Lebanese

Ban's Report Doesn't Determine Shebaa as Lebanese

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02/07/2008 Contrary to what has been expected, the occupied Shebaa Farms issue did not gain top priority on the UN chief Ban Ki-Moon's seventh report on Security Council resolution 1701. Ban's latest report did not mention the Lebanese identity of the Farms and settled for pointing to a message he received from then head of the unconstitutional government Fouad Saniora in April, in which he welcomed a geographic identification for the territories. He said that he was encouraged by "renewed declarations from the international community on the importance of finding a solution to the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms area." The report mentioned that the Israeli military has remained in control of some territory north of the Blue Line and a part of the village of Ghajar. Ban stressed that this is a "continuous source of tension, which could easily escalate." The Secretary-General, however, said southern Lebanon has witnessed the longest period of relative stability in many years as the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah following the 2006 war continues to hold. Ban underlined the importance of ensuring that the area between the Blue Line and the Litani River is free of "unauthorized armed personnel, assets and weapons," and called on the Lebanese government to ensure the UNIFIL's full freedom of movement. Although Israel claims that Hezbollah is rearming in the south, the report said "it has found no evidence of new military infrastructure in (UNIFIL's) area of operations." He also urged Israel to cease all overflights, noting that air violations "not only continued unabated during the reporting period, but also reached record levels during the months of March and April 2008." On politics in Lebanon, Ban said there are new opportunities for the Lebanese people to consolidate the country's political stability and create an environment conducive to further addressing critical challenges. "I look forward to the speedy establishment of a national unity government and to the revitalization of the constitutional institutions of Lebanon, which I believe will help the country make further concrete progress on the implementation of Resolution 1701," Ban wrote. The Lebanese Armed Forces "will remain under considerable pressure" in the carrying out of their responsibilities, "particularly in the aftermath of the May events and the continuing clashes in some parts of Lebanon," Ban said. He urged the international community to assist the army in "becoming an adequately equipped and capable force."