AP: Israel Puts Demands on Peacekeepers

[Eugene]

Israel Puts Demands on Peacekeepers


Sunday August 20, 2006 5:46 PM

By JOSEF FEDERMAN

Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM (AP) - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that Israel will not
accept the presence of peacekeepers in Lebanon from countries that don't have
diplomatic relations with the Jewish state, according to officials.

The decision complicated efforts by the United Nations to form a 15,000-strong
peacekeeping force to help enforce a truce that ended 34 days of fighting
between Israel and the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah.

The decision was made at a meeting of Olmert's inner Security Cabinet, meeting
participants said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't
authorized to speak to the media.

Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh - Muslim countries that do not have
diplomatic ties with Israel - are among the only countries to have offered
front-line troops for the expanded force. Europe, which had been expected
to lead the force, has been slow to make any firm troops commitments.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6026964,00.html

Earlier: Israel alarm at UN force members

[IndianaGreen]

1. Tough shit, Israel!

It was you that chose to operate outside the bounds of international law and human decency. Look at what American pride and boastfulness has brought us in Iraq, and learn that it is better to be humble and treat others with respect. Peace is the only alternative!

[stepnw1f]

2. F... You Too!

I mean really? What arrogance...

[Warren Stupidity]

3. Israel should shut up and observe the truce.

"Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh" - yes when I think of rabid Israel hating arab nations, I think of the far removed east asian states of Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh. This is such total bullshit.

As I have said earlier: Israel can have the peacekeeping force move 20 miles south and then Israel can have a say in who exactly constitutes the force inside Israel's borders. Otherwise they should shut up.

It doesn't help either that Israel conducted a serious violation of the ceasefire this weekend. They are not helping themselves here. Even their friends are having trouble supporting them.

[damntexdem]

8. The problem is that, no matter what the problems, ...

the U.S. keeps on supporting Israel.

[me b zola]

4. Or what? They'll bomb the peacekeepers....AGAIN?

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[regnaD kciN]

6. O.K. What about putting some demands on Israel...

...like, maybe, observing the countless U.N. resolutions regarding the occupied territories that they've ignored time and again for the past thirty-plus years??? :grr:

[damntexdem]

7. And how many of those nations have diplomatic relations with ...

Hezbollah? The world SHOULD, but will not, tell Israel that the peacekeepers are there to stand between the Hezbollah terrorists and Israeli terrorists, not as a backdoor way to pressure states to provide diplomatic recognition.

[HuffleClaw]

9. 'will not accept' ???

how is it ANY of their business who get stationed on lebanese soil?

[ama]

10. a new idea

Maybe Israel should put 15 miles of israel under UN troops too they could even start with the illegaly held Golan heights

[Purveyor]

11. When israel puts the 'buffer zone' on their side of the border

then they can decide who shall patrol those grounds.

[hack89]

12. Israel has a de facto veto ...

if they do not think that the UN force will disarm Hezbollah and remove them from southern Lebanon, then they will restart the war. Why doesn't anyone take them seriously when they say that a disarmed Hezbollah is non-negotiable requirement for peace? If you really want peace, their concerns have to be recognized as legitimate - if they have no confidence in the UN and the cease fire process they will attack. Simple as that.

It is all well and good to condemn Israel on principle but that principle may get more lebanese killed.