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The United States is threatening to veto the Security Council over the continuation of UNIFIL activities

The administration is demanding changes in the activities of the UN force in southern Lebanon, including a reduction in the number of soldiers in the international force. In a move designed to pressure countries on the Security Council, the United States has made it clear that it will veto if the demands are not met. France is not impressed by the threat: "What will they do? Will they send Marines to replace them? "

• UNIFIL
• United States
• UN Security Council
• UN
• Lebanon

Lightning Ravid

The United States is threatening to veto the UN Security Council over the continuation of force in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) if demands to improve its functioning are not met. Senior Israeli and American officials have noted that President Donald Trump's administration is demanding that a decision to extend UN force activity in southern Lebanon, which will be put to a vote at the end of the month, include significant changes to the UNIFIL mandate - including a significant cut in troops.

UNIFIL's main funder is the United States, and the power budget is estimated at $ 250 million a year. The US threat is part of a broader move by the Trump administration to increase pressure on Iran and Hezbollah. This is amid a severe political crisis in Lebanon over the Beirut port. And in parallel with the high tension between Hezbollah and Israel on the border.

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The changes that the US requires in UNIFIL:

• Cut the maximum number of soldiers from 15,000 to 11,000
• Renewal of the power mandate once every six months instead of once a year
• Removal of restrictions on the movement of UN troops in southern Lebanon
• Increasing reports to the Security Council on attempts to restrict force activity
• Transfer of most Yanifil force soldiers to the Israel-Lebanon border area
• Upgrading the weapons, technological capabilities and vehicles of the force

The changes required by the Trump administration in the UN force mandate in southern Lebanon, according to senior Israeli and American officials, is to cut the maximum number of troops from 15 to 11,000. Today the force does not reach the maximum possible and numbers only 10,500 soldiers. Another change is a renewal of the mandate. Year instead of once a year, in order to make more frequent changes depending on the situation on

the ground.The Trump administration also demands the removal of restrictions on the movement of UN troops in southern Lebanon and increased reports to the Security Council on attempts to restrict their activities. Another change is the immediate implementation of the conclusions of the UN Secretary - General's report on UNIFIL's activities, which include the transfer of most UN force soldiers to the border area between Lebanon and Israel. This, along with upgrading UNIFIL's weapons, technological capabilities and vehicles to better suit its missions.

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In the summer of 2006, at the end of the Second Lebanon War, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1701, which significantly increased the power of UN UNIFIL observers to 15,000 troops. In addition, its missions and powers were expanded to include friction on the Israeli-Lebanese border and the Knesset. Heavy weapons to the area south of the Litani River.Israel

and the United States have had many allegations about the functioning of UNIFIL over the past 15 years, as well as its failure to fulfill its missions - especially with regard to close and effective oversight of Hezbollah activities in southern Lebanon. However, both the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Defense Ministry and the Foreign Ministry in Washington supported the continued existence of UNIFIL despite its shortcomings.

In the past year, there has been a significant change in Israeli and American policy, linking UNIFIL to the size of the force. Senior Israeli officials have noted that unlike in the past, the United States and Israel believe that the number of UN force soldiers should be reduced due to the fact that it does not fulfill its missions. The two countries are particularly concerned Hezbollah's activities are suspected.

Officials noted that in recent weeks Israel and the United States have held talks with a large part of the countries sending troops to the UN force in southern Lebanon as well as with Security Council members and clarified that they will not agree to a technical extension of the UNIFIL mandate in a August 31 vote.

The Israeli and American diplomats made it clear to their interlocutors that exposing Hezbollah tunnels at the border, cutting the fence, violence against UN soldiers and attempts to block their activities, as well as the attempted attack on Mount Dov, make it clear that the status quo cannot continue. "UNIFIL and this situation can not continue," said a senior Israeli official.

Leading the UN Security Council resolution is France. Israeli and senior U.S. officials have noted that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Kraft and others have made it clear to their French counterparts in recent weeks that the United States will not hesitate to veto the decision. Her demands will not be accepted. In such a situation, UNIFIL activities will cease and the force will be disbanded.

"Hezbollah prevents UNIFIL from carrying out its missions"

A senior US State Department official said the United States supports UN peacekeeping forces as long as they are effective, implementing their mandate, adapting to changes on the ground and able to change in the event of failure. "We therefore want UNIFIL to fully implement its mandate. "He will recognize his weaknesses and make changes accordingly," said a senior State Department official in Washington. "Hezbollah is preventing UNIFIL from carrying out its missions and the continuation of this situation is not acceptable to us."

In recent days, several negotiating meetings have been held between the five permanent members of the Security Council - the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom. The other countries are not interested in making dramatic changes to the UNIFIL mandate - especially in light of the catastrophic explosion in Lebanon and the instability in the country.

Senior officials in Jerusalem point out that Israel does not want a complete dismantling of the UNIFIL force, but emphasize that only through a clear American threat to veto the decision is there a chance to persuade France and other Security Council members to agree to significant changes in the UN mandate.

The French, however, are not yet impressed by the threat posed by the United States. "What will the Americans do? Will they send tens of thousands of Marines to replace UNIFIL?" Said a senior French diplomat involved in the negotiations. "We believe we will reach a compromise by the end of the month," he added.