"Israel" Recruits UNIFIL to Save Pilots from Capture!
Source: Al-Manar TV, 5-8-2008
While the Lebanese cabinet was holding a lengthy cabinet meeting to ratify its ministerial statement amid reservations expressed by some of the ministers on the resistance-related clause, the Zionist entity, that openly expressed concern over this same clause, was not wasting its time.
The Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar quoted western diplomatic sources in the United Nations as saying that "Israel" has notified the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as well as the governments of states participating in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) of its concern that Hizbullah may receive efficient antiaircraft weaponry that may lead to downing fighter jets.
The sources noted that "Israel" has stressed it would proceed with violations of the Lebanese airspace under the pretext of "confronting the threat of Hizbullah armament," adding that "Israel" has also asked all the states and their security and military agencies to upgrade UNIFIL's operational activities to "confiscate such weapons."
"However, the most important request that "Israel" has made and was discussed by "Israeli" and peacekeeping officers is related to practical measures by UNIFIL to prevent the capture by Hizbullah fighters of "Israeli" crew members of warplanes that Hizbullah might succeed in knocking down," according to the sources speaking to Al-Akhbar.
According to the daily, and as a result of these contacts, UNIFIL commander General Claudio Grazziano issued an order in conformity with "Israel"'s wishes. Al-Akhbar said the order stipulates that "in case an "Israeli" warplane was shot down in UNIFIL's area of influence, the pilot should be rescued as soon as possible and taken to the closest UNIFIL post before any side manages to reach him."
"In case the pilot fell into the hands of 'gunmen', he also must be rescued, Grazziano's order added. "Only in the case that the pilot falls into the hands of Lebanese army troops there should be no intervention," it also said.
The daily said that following these contacts, additional international troops were deployed in several regions, which were combed by repeated patrols. The Lebanese Army was also asked to inspect specific sites and examine cars suspected to carry armed men.
"Israel" has lately expressed fear of the possibility that Hizbullah has antiaircraft weaponry that may lead to downing fighter jets. The "Israeli" daily Maariv has reported that "Israeli" security experts are expecting Hizbullah to focus on intercepting or shooting down "Israeli" jetfighters that fly over Lebanese air space. Hizbullah, according to the experts, will use the issue of continued "Israeli" violations of Lebanese airspace, against which there is consensus in Lebanon, to attack "Israel". "Hizbullah does not want to risk an "Israeli" counterstrike, but on the other hand, it is growing stronger," defense sources told Maariv. "For this reason, "Israeli" aircraft may be a suitable target," they said.
UNIFIL DENIES: REPORT DOES NOT ACCURATELY REPRESENTS THE WAY UNIFIL OPERATES
However, the UNIFIL Public Information Office issued a statement denying what it described as "unfounded allegations made on 5 August 2008 in the daily Al Akhbar regarding UNIFIL's Force Commander issuing an order at the behest of the "Israeli" Defense Forces."
"This media report does not accurately represent the way UNIFIL operates," the statement said.
It also said that the activities of UNIFIL are defined by UN Security Council Resolution 1701 "and are carried out in close cooperation and coordination with the Lebanese Army, which has primary responsibility for security and law and order in the area of operations."
"In accordance with the Technical Arrangements established in 2006 between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army, UNIFIL will hand over to the Lebanese Army any persons whom they may detain, and any weapons, ammunitions and explosives they may seize in the course of discharging their duties under the mandate of the Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006) and in accordance with UNIFIL Rules of Engagement," the statement declared.
UNIFIL has recently been protesting over "Israeli" violations of the Lebanese sovereignty, mainly though flyovers.
"Israeli" VIOLATIONS OF SOVEREIGNTY ONGOING: FOUR IN 24 HOURS!
Meanwhile, "Israel" continued Tuesday to violate the Lebanese sovereignty. A formation of two fighter jets violated the Lebanese airspace in the morning hours followed later by another formation of two "Israeli" warplanes. They flew at high altitudes mainly over southern areas.
Moreover, the Ghajar occupied village was the scene of two land violations on Monday. The National News Agency (NNA) has actually reported that "Israeli" enemy military vehicles and tanks, accompanied by an excavator and a crane, have approached Monday evening the Lebanese sector of the occupied Ghajar village, for the second time within hours.
According to the agency, the "Israeli" vehicles penetrated deeply into the town adjacent to the Lebanese liberated lands. The excavator and the crane started excavation works under the supervision of a number of "Israeli" officers.
According to Lebanese Army figures, 1660 airspace, water and land violations have taken place between May and the beginning of July what means that thousands of "Israeli" soldiers and officers had entered Lebanese territories to set targets and continue the psychological war against Lebanon.
The Islamic Resistance has issued a statement on July 30 condemning "Israel's" continuous violations of Lebanese airspace, water and land, especially in the past few days. "The increase of "Israeli" enemy violations of Lebanese airspace, water and land is considered an unacceptable provocative escalation," said the statement. "It requires condemnation and serious action by the Lebanese authorities and the United Nations," it added.
While the Lebanese cabinet was holding a lengthy cabinet meeting to ratify its ministerial statement amid reservations expressed by some of the ministers on the resistance-related clause, the Zionist entity, that openly expressed concern over this same clause, was not wasting its time.
The Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar quoted western diplomatic sources in the United Nations as saying that "Israel" has notified the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as well as the governments of states participating in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) of its concern that Hizbullah may receive efficient antiaircraft weaponry that may lead to downing fighter jets.
The sources noted that "Israel" has stressed it would proceed with violations of the Lebanese airspace under the pretext of "confronting the threat of Hizbullah armament," adding that "Israel" has also asked all the states and their security and military agencies to upgrade UNIFIL's operational activities to "confiscate such weapons."
"However, the most important request that "Israel" has made and was discussed by "Israeli" and peacekeeping officers is related to practical measures by UNIFIL to prevent the capture by Hizbullah fighters of "Israeli" crew members of warplanes that Hizbullah might succeed in knocking down," according to the sources speaking to Al-Akhbar.
According to the daily, and as a result of these contacts, UNIFIL commander General Claudio Grazziano issued an order in conformity with "Israel"'s wishes. Al-Akhbar said the order stipulates that "in case an "Israeli" warplane was shot down in UNIFIL's area of influence, the pilot should be rescued as soon as possible and taken to the closest UNIFIL post before any side manages to reach him."
"In case the pilot fell into the hands of 'gunmen', he also must be rescued, Grazziano's order added. "Only in the case that the pilot falls into the hands of Lebanese army troops there should be no intervention," it also said.
The daily said that following these contacts, additional international troops were deployed in several regions, which were combed by repeated patrols. The Lebanese Army was also asked to inspect specific sites and examine cars suspected to carry armed men.
"Israel" has lately expressed fear of the possibility that Hizbullah has antiaircraft weaponry that may lead to downing fighter jets. The "Israeli" daily Maariv has reported that "Israeli" security experts are expecting Hizbullah to focus on intercepting or shooting down "Israeli" jetfighters that fly over Lebanese air space. Hizbullah, according to the experts, will use the issue of continued "Israeli" violations of Lebanese airspace, against which there is consensus in Lebanon, to attack "Israel". "Hizbullah does not want to risk an "Israeli" counterstrike, but on the other hand, it is growing stronger," defense sources told Maariv. "For this reason, "Israeli" aircraft may be a suitable target," they said.
UNIFIL DENIES: REPORT DOES NOT ACCURATELY REPRESENTS THE WAY UNIFIL OPERATES
However, the UNIFIL Public Information Office issued a statement denying what it described as "unfounded allegations made on 5 August 2008 in the daily Al Akhbar regarding UNIFIL's Force Commander issuing an order at the behest of the "Israeli" Defense Forces."
"This media report does not accurately represent the way UNIFIL operates," the statement said.
It also said that the activities of UNIFIL are defined by UN Security Council Resolution 1701 "and are carried out in close cooperation and coordination with the Lebanese Army, which has primary responsibility for security and law and order in the area of operations."
"In accordance with the Technical Arrangements established in 2006 between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army, UNIFIL will hand over to the Lebanese Army any persons whom they may detain, and any weapons, ammunitions and explosives they may seize in the course of discharging their duties under the mandate of the Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006) and in accordance with UNIFIL Rules of Engagement," the statement declared.
UNIFIL has recently been protesting over "Israeli" violations of the Lebanese sovereignty, mainly though flyovers.
"Israeli" VIOLATIONS OF SOVEREIGNTY ONGOING: FOUR IN 24 HOURS!
Meanwhile, "Israel" continued Tuesday to violate the Lebanese sovereignty. A formation of two fighter jets violated the Lebanese airspace in the morning hours followed later by another formation of two "Israeli" warplanes. They flew at high altitudes mainly over southern areas.
Moreover, the Ghajar occupied village was the scene of two land violations on Monday. The National News Agency (NNA) has actually reported that "Israeli" enemy military vehicles and tanks, accompanied by an excavator and a crane, have approached Monday evening the Lebanese sector of the occupied Ghajar village, for the second time within hours.
According to the agency, the "Israeli" vehicles penetrated deeply into the town adjacent to the Lebanese liberated lands. The excavator and the crane started excavation works under the supervision of a number of "Israeli" officers.
According to Lebanese Army figures, 1660 airspace, water and land violations have taken place between May and the beginning of July what means that thousands of "Israeli" soldiers and officers had entered Lebanese territories to set targets and continue the psychological war against Lebanon.
The Islamic Resistance has issued a statement on July 30 condemning "Israel's" continuous violations of Lebanese airspace, water and land, especially in the past few days. "The increase of "Israeli" enemy violations of Lebanese airspace, water and land is considered an unacceptable provocative escalation," said the statement. "It requires condemnation and serious action by the Lebanese authorities and the United Nations," it added.
