'Tel Aviv' influenced UAE vote to extend UNIFIL mission: Israeli media
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Israeli media say the Israeli envoy to the UNSC managed to garner the UAE's vote to back the resolution more favorable to "Tel Aviv".
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UNIFIL patrol near the village of Meiss El Jabal, along the southern Lebanese border with occupied Palestine on August 26, 2020 (AFP)
The Israeli occupation envoy to the United Nations succeeded in persuading the UAE's representative to vote in favor of extending UNIFIL's presence in Lebanon under a draft that aligns with "Tel Aviv's" interests, Israeli media outlets reported.
According to the political affairs correspondent for Kan news broadcaster, views on the proposed text remained the center issue between a number of countries until the very last moment of the session, just before the voting took place.
Read more: Lebanon's claims over Al-Ghajar seem legitimate: Ex-IOF Chief of Staff
"There were differences in opinions" that caused the extreme delay, Gili Cohen said, adding that a number of parties "made all attempts to influence the UNIFIL's mission" and operating parameters.
The approved mandate constitutes that the force is allowed to make "announced and unannounced patrols" without prior approval from any authority, including the Lebanese Army, but its activities will require "coordination with the Lebanese government."
While Russia and China abstained, 13 countries voted in favor of renewing the mission in Lebanon for one year, including the UAE, which played a significant role in pushing for the adoption of "stronger language" with regard to UNIFIL's "freedom of movement."
Cohen explained that this was "a result of the diplomatic efforts undertaken by Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, when he succeeded in securing the UAE vote" in favor of the formula most suitable to the entity.
Read more: US pressures Lebanon: UNIFIL to work independently from Lebanese Army
The UN Security Council adopted a French-proposed resolution on Thursday - Res. 2695 (2023) - to extend the mission of the UN forces that have deployed in Lebanon since 1978, by one year. An argument between the US and the UAE, on one side, and Paris on the other, regarding the language of the resolution, was the main reason behind the postponement of the vote until the last minute, while it was supposed to be finalized on Wednesday.
Washington and its Gulf ally fought in favor of UNIFIL's "freedom of operations without any restrictions," referring to eliminating the need to cooperate or inform the Lebanese Army of any activity the force plans to carry out.
"UNIFIL does not require prior authorization or permission to undertake its mandated tasks and... UNIFIL is authorized to conduct its operation independently while continuing to coordinate with the Government of Lebanon," the text read.
A diplomatic source told Al Mayadeen earlier that the new resolution dropped a clause that requires the UN force to "provide aid to the Lebanese army in the form of fuel and medical support."
In a statement to Al Mayadeen, political analyst Wassim Bazzi stressed that while the language of the text remained ambiguous, it would not affect the power balance established on the ground in the South of Lebanon.
Earlier on August 28, Hezbollah Secretary General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, pointed out that some sides, including Lebanese, wish to turn the UNIFIL into spies for the Israeli occupation.
