UNIFIL's mandate since 2006 has been:UNIFIL expresses grave concern for the safety of civilians in southern Lebanon amidst the most intense Israeli bombing campaign since last October.....It is essential to fully recommit to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which is now more critical than ever to address the underlying causes of the conflict and ensure lasting stability.
Monitor the cessation of hostilities;Accompany and support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as they deploy throughout the South, as Israel withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon;Coordinate these activities with the Governments of Lebanon and Israel;Extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons;Assist the LAF in taking steps towards the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani river of an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Government of Lebanon and of UNIFIL deployed in this area;Assist the Government of Lebanon in securing its borders and other entry points to prevent the entry in Lebanon without its consent of arms or related materiel.
These goals were part of UN Security council resolution 1701.
So why hasn't UNIFIL done its job?
Part of the reason is that Hezbollah bullied the government and army of Lebanon not to take their own responsibility to secure their nation from being hijacked by the Iranian proxy army.
But 1701 is still on the books, and UNIFIL's mandate is unchanged.
Yet you hardly hear anyone besides UNIFIL talking about 1701 as being the basis for any solution.
Israel fulfilled its part of 1701 - it withdrew its army from Lebanon, completely. No one else has.
If 1701 was implemented, there would be no rockets, no drones, no Israelis displaced from their homes, no threat of war. As we see, the anti-Israel UN supports the implementation of the resolution, at least officially.
So why isn't 1701 the centerpiece of all discussion? Why is Hezbollah's illegal presence in southern Lebanon considered normal and non-negotiable? Why is the EU not speaking out consistently on how Lebanon's refusal to implement 1701 is the real problem, not Israel defending itself from the terrorist militia that hijacked what should be a wonderful country?
Because hate for Israel is always the most salient factor of how people act. Everything else is secondary.
