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Losing the Scent in South Lebanon

(Jerusalem Post) Jonathan Spyer - Tensions have been steadily rising between the French contingent of UNIFIL forces deployed in south Lebanon and supporters of Hizbullah. A number of incidents took place after UNIFIL conducted a 36-hour deployment exercise on June 29. Following a series of consultations with the Lebanese government and armed forces, UNIFIL commander Alberto Asarta Cuevas issued a contrite statement, apologizing to the residents of the south for the inconvenience to them caused by his force's activities. It was later announced that UNIFIL would no longer use sniffer dogs in patrols (a point which had particularly annoyed the villagers). Also, it was reiterated that UNIFIL would not enter houses and yards in populated areas. Whatever the precise reasons for Hizbullah's latest move against UNIFIL, the recent events once more demonstrate the relative helplessness of the UN force. The writer is a senior researcher at the Global Research in International Affairs Center, IDC, Herzliya.
2010-07-20 07:50:10
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