1. Bits of News - Lebanon: From cease-fire to peace, or new armed conflict ?
Bits of News - Lebanon_ From cease-fire to peace, or new armed conflict _.htm[25.04.2014 21:52:07]
Lebanon: From cease-fire to peace, or new armed conflict ?
Wednesday, 16 August 2006 Written by Geir E. Jansen
The fragile cease-fire in the 34-day armed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is
holding for a third day, and now several analysts on international politics are questioning
themselves what comes after the UN-resolution 1701 ?
UN Security Council
"This situation is very fragile and is going to remain that way for quite some time. We aren't
out of trouble yet," French Maj. General Alain Pellegrini told Le Monde daily.
"Peace is vulnerable to a provocation, or a stray act, that could undermine everything," the
French Maj. Gen. added.
Pellegrini commands the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, which has some 2,000
troops. He said it would take a long time for UNIFIL to grow into the 15,000-strong force
authorised by the U.N. Security Council in UN-resolution 1701.
UNIFIL-Commander
Maj. General
Alain Pellegrini
His assessment of the volatile situation in Lebanon after the cease-fire came into effect,
illustrates the crucial point now, managing to deliver on the implementation of UN-resolution
1701.
The key-points in the resolution; cessation of hostilities between the two parties, a transfer
of authority and power from the Hezbollah militia to the regular national Lebanese Army in
the southern part of the country with the assistance of an increased UN-force, and the
immediate hand-over of the two captured Israeli soldiers, together with an appeal to find a
solution on the issue of Lebanese prisoners in Israeli custody, have already been an issue,
both within the Lebanese government, and in the international community, with different
interpretations with regard to what the UN-resolution specifically demands of the involved
parties.
The most difficult of the key-points seem to be the call for the establishment of the national
Lebanese Army as the sole military authority in the south, with reference to the UN-
resolution 1559, calling for the disarmament of "...all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias"
(article 3).

2. Bits of News - Lebanon: From cease-fire to peace, or new armed conflict ?
Bits of News - Lebanon_ From cease-fire to peace, or new armed conflict _.htm[25.04.2014 21:52:07]
It is understood that Hezbollah's change of heart, refusing to disarm its fighters, has proved
to be a stumbling block.
Just after the cease-fire came into effect, an announced cabinet-meeting in Lebanon,
discussing the implementation of UN-resolution 1701 was postponed, because of an alleged
disagreement between Hezbollah and the Lebanese cabinet on the issue.
Mohamad Chatah, an adviser to Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, said his
government's goal is to persuade Hezbollah to become "a normal political party, having the
same rights and obligations as others."
"Hezbollah says that can happen," Chatah said. "We cannot have two armies anymore", CNN
reports.
Leader of Hezbollah
Hassan Nasrallah
Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, had insisted that any disarmament of his militia --
even in the border area -- should be handled in longer-term discussions within the Lebanese
government, according to government ministers. But the Lebanese army, backed by key
political leaders, refused to send troops into the just-becalmed battle zone until Hezbollah's
missiles, rockets and other weapons were taken north of the Litani River, the ministers said.
In a televised speech Monday evening, Nasrallah accused those who are pushing Hezbollah
for immediate disarmament of "insensitivity and immorality."
"At this emotionally difficult and fateful time, some individuals speaking with wooden tongues
sit behind desks in their air-conditioned offices and talk about these issues," he added. "This is
inappropriate and wrong. I advise that no one exert pressure, bearing in mind that the most
ferocious battle in the history of Lebanon has just been waged south of the river."
Israel on the other hand has vowed to continue to keep the pressure on Hezbollah, and said
it would not accept any other military presence in the border-area than the regular Lebanese
Army, and the UN-force.
Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz said the Israeli army would not allow the Hezbollah
militia to return to south Lebanon.
Israeli Defense Minister

3. Bits of News - Lebanon: From cease-fire to peace, or new armed conflict ?
Bits of News - Lebanon_ From cease-fire to peace, or new armed conflict _.htm[25.04.2014 21:52:07]
Amir Peretz
"We will operate with the utmost determination against a regrouping of Hezbollah in south
Lebanon," Peretz told members of his Labour Party before a parliament meeting.
"If Hezbollah violates the cease-fire and the established rules, we will act with
determination," Defence Minister Peretz said.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev later confirmed Israel's stand on the issue:
"In line with the U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, south Lebanon has to be demilitarized
and rid of all armed Hezbollah presence."
"This means that there will no longer be a state within a state along our northern border to
keep provoking us", he said.
The political uncertainty these statements has caused, together with the slight confusion over
the specific mandate of the 15.000-strong UN-force, has prompted a more cautious
approach from UN member-states with regard to further committing themselves to
contribute with ground-forces in southern Lebanon, than the initial display of good-will after
resolution 1701 was adopted by the UN-Security Council on Friday 11th of August.
MercuryNews.com reports;
"The confusion", said Timor Goksel, a former official with the U.N. peacekeeping mission in
Lebanon, "is one reason that countries have been reluctant to contribute forces".
"Everybody wants to know what is the exact mission ; nobody is happy with this wishy-washy
U.N. mandate," said Goksel, who now teaches at the American University in Beirut.
The United Nations has not received any formal offers of troops for the U.N. force yet, known
as UNIFIL, although France, Italy, Turkey, Malaysia and Indonesia have indicated they will
make significant contributions. A dozen other countries have also expressed a willingness to
help.
"We would like to get firm commitments of troops as soon as possible," U.N. spokesman
Stephane Dujarric said.
Forty-five countries attended initial technical meetings for potential troop contributors, and
the U.N. is hoping there will be announcements of troop commitments at a formal meeting on
Thursday.
Complicating the political situation further in the wake of the cease-fire coming into effect,
is the influence Iran and Syria asserts in Lebanese politics.
Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad
Both Syria and Iran have de facto waged a war by proxy against Lebanon's southern
neighbour Israel through Hezbollah, and none of them perceive a situation with a disarmed
Hezbollah as something desirable.

4. Bits of News - Lebanon: From cease-fire to peace, or new armed conflict ?
Bits of News - Lebanon_ From cease-fire to peace, or new armed conflict _.htm[25.04.2014 21:52:07]
Syrian President Bashar Assad in a televised address to a meeting of Arab journalists in
Damascus underscored that point, when he predicted that there will be no peace in the region
for a long time, and that Israeli and Lebanese politicians will fail in disarming Hezbollah.
The Syrian President's words could quickly become a reality, if the efforts on resolving the
problems outlined in UN-resolution 1701 do not give results.
This article is also available at The European Tribune.
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Re: Lebanon: From cease-fire to peace, or new armed conflict ?
Geir E. Jansen
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