Why Israelis have no faith in the UN
As if further proof was needed of the double standard that prevails at the United Nations, below is a footage shot a couple of days ago by IDF drones over South Lebanon.
On October 12, 2009, there was an explosion at a Hezbollah weapons storehouse in Tayr Filsay, in southern Lebanon. This aerial footage, taken shortly after the explosion, shows Hezbollah operatives closing down the area around the warehouse, driving in two trucks and removing weaponry from the site. They then took the weapons to a known weapons storage facility in the center of the village of Dir a-Nahar about four kilometers away. Only after Hezbollah removed the weaponry did they allow UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army to enter the site of the explosion. The IDF has sumbitted the footage to UNIFIL to aid in their investigation of the incident.
Source
The UN Resolution (UNSCR 1701) that brought an end to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006 clearly states:
15. Decides further that all states shall take the necessary measures to prevent, by their nationals or from their territories or using their flag vessels or aircraft;
* a. the sale or supply to any entity or individual in Lebanon of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned, whether or not originating in their territories, and;
* b. the provision to any entity or individual in Lebanon of any technical training or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of the items listed in subparagraph (a) above, except that these prohibitions shall not apply to arms, related material, training or assistance authorised by the government of Lebanon or by Unifil as authorised in paragraph 11;
Israelis ambassador to the UN, Gabriela Shalev, has rightly complained to the Security Council about “another serious violation” of the UN resolution.
Whether the UN can fit in to its busy schedule a debate on such violations of SC resolutions is, in my mind at least, questionable, as it seems quite busy right now looking into the Goldstone report.
As Goldstone had previously stated regarding the Gaza conflict, Israel should have complained to the UN about rocket attacks from Gaza – and yet Israel constantly complains about Hezbollah breaking 1701 and the UN sits on its hands and does nothing.
So if Israel is forced to take action again against Hezbollah will we hear another outcry from the likes of Goldstone?
And they wonder why we have no faith in the UN.
Added 16th Nov 09: Hezbollah video trying to refute Israeli allegations.
Elections in Lebanon
Elections in the Middle East are never a clear cut thing.
In Lebanon yesterday Hezbollah, that bunch of psychotic religious fundamentalists who are backed by Iran, failed in their bid to gain control of the Lebanese Parliament.
The 14th March Alliance, headed by Saad Hariri, have won 71 out of 128 seats.
Congratulations to them.
Background and more here!
Israeli daily Haaretz (quoting an AFP piece) claim that Hezbollah have accepted defeat, but according to member of parliament, Mohamed Raad:
“The majority must commit not to question our role as a resistance party, the legitimacy of our weapons arsenal and the fact that Israel is an enemy state,”
You got to love the chutzpah of those pesky Hezbollah folks, they lose an election, and by Lebanese standards this is a HUGE loss, and they still make demands!
