Lebanon's borders well-defined, internationally recognized: Ministry

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
29 Jul 2023 18:04

Lebanon reaffirms its full commitment to Resolution 1701 in all its provisions and its right to liberate its occupied lands.

An Israeli occupation Merkava tank is positioned on occupied Palestine's northern border with Lebanon, on June 27, 2023 (AFP)

The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Lebanon's borders are demarcated and internationally recognized based on the 1923 Paulet–Newcombe Agreement, and the official maps belonging to it are deposited with the United Nations.

In a statement touching on remarks made by Lebanon's Acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Jean Murad, during the open debate held by the UN Security Council on July 27, the Ministry pointed out that the use of the phrase "completing the demarcation of the Southern land borders," as mentioned in Murad's speech, was "unintended".

It clarified that the intention was to demand "Israel's" immediate and unconditional withdrawal from several points and areas still occupied within the internationally-recognized Lebanese territory.

Murad had stated that Lebanon reaffirms its full commitment to Resolution 1701 in all its provisions and its right to liberate its occupied lands, including the Shebaa Farms, the Kfar Chouba Hills, and the outskirts of the town of Al-Mari.

She also said Lebanon reiterates its readiness to complete "the demarcation of the Southern land borders" and discuss how to address the remaining points within the framework of the tripartite meetings, in the presence of the United Nations.

It is noteworthy that last week, Al Mayadeen correspondent reported that Lebanon started bulldozing lands adjacent to what is known as the withdrawal line, or the Blue Line, in the Kfar Chouba Hills, the area bordering occupied Palestine.

Our correspondent highlighted that the bulldozing operations are a precedent for Lebanon since the liberation of the South and the Western Bekaa from the Israeli occupation, adding that the bulldozing was taking place near the barricades set up by the Israeli occupation a few days earlier.

The zones in which the bulldozing took place have not seen Lebanese people set foot there since the 1970s.

As the bulldozing took place, the Lebanese Army reinforced its positions on the border area amid a heightened state of alert on either side of the border.