UNIFIL Commander Urges Lebanon, Israel to Resume Talks on Blue Line

Vehicles are seen behind the border wall between Israel and Lebanon, as seen from Rosh Hanikra, northern Israel May 4, 2021. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
Vehicles are seen behind the border wall between Israel and Lebanon, as seen from Rosh Hanikra, northern Israel May 4, 2021. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
TT

UNIFIL Commander Urges Lebanon, Israel to Resume Talks on Blue Line

Vehicles are seen behind the border wall between Israel and Lebanon, as seen from Rosh Hanikra, northern Israel May 4, 2021. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
Vehicles are seen behind the border wall between Israel and Lebanon, as seen from Rosh Hanikra, northern Israel May 4, 2021. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

The head of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon has called on the Lebanese authorities and Israel to resume talks on the technical Blue Line to find agreements on a number of the contentious points along the Line.

Major General Stefano Del Col chaired on Friday this year’s first Tripartite meeting with senior Lebanese and Israeli army officers in Ras Al Naqoura. It was the outgoing UNIFIL head’s last Tripartite meeting.

Addressing both delegations, the UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander reflected on challenges and opportunities he has seen since taking charge of the peacekeeping mission in early August 2018, and on the way forward.

“We must all play our part to move from the technical level towards the higher-level goal of a sustainable peace,” he said. “This is my parting challenge to you all.”

Del Col said UNIFIL’s open line of communications with the parties remains vital, adding that throughout numerous Blue Line incidents, both the Lebanese and Israeli armies remained engaged, providing UNIFIL time and space for de-escalation.

“It is encouraging that you both continued to work closely with UNIFIL throughout each of these incidents to contain the situation and restore stability,” said Del Col. “This demonstrates the critical contribution of our liaison and coordination channels to de-escalate and de-conflict, at the heart of which is our Tripartite forum.”

The UNIFIL Head of Mission also called on the parties to resume the technical Blue Line talks, in order to find agreements on a number of the contentious points along the Blue Line, and to use the Tripartite forum to build on past achievements, and to make progress towards a more stable environment.

Other issues discussed at the meeting included incidents along the Blue Line, airspace violations and serious breaches of the cessation of hostilities in violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701.



Trump’s Return: Jubilation in Tel Aviv, Worries in Ramallah

A Palestinian in Bureij Camp asks Trump to end war on Gaza (AFP)
A Palestinian in Bureij Camp asks Trump to end war on Gaza (AFP)
TT

Trump’s Return: Jubilation in Tel Aviv, Worries in Ramallah

A Palestinian in Bureij Camp asks Trump to end war on Gaza (AFP)
A Palestinian in Bureij Camp asks Trump to end war on Gaza (AFP)

The excitement among Israel’s ruling coalition leaders over Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election matches the joy of his supporters in the US.
In contrast, the rest of the world, especially the Palestinians, remains cautious and worried, waiting to see how he will act.
Their only response is hope—hope that he might end wars and shift his known “hostile” policies.
Trump sent a clear message when he declared after his win, “I will not start wars, I will end them.” Both Palestinians and Israelis took note of this, each interpreting it through their own lens.
However, both sides must wait two months for Trump to take office and even longer to see how he will approach foreign policy.
In Israel, the ruling coalition is celebrating with the expectation that Trump will offer strong military, security, and political support—not just in their conflicts with Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza, but also in their broader goals, including ending the Palestinian dream of statehood, expelling them, and annexing the West Bank, Golan Heights, and possibly parts of Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was almost the first leader to congratulate Trump, followed by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
While Israelis eagerly await Trump’s arrival, Palestinian leaders in Ramallah are worried he won’t change his previous policies.
A research paper from a London-based monitoring center for political and strategic studies highlighted that Trump’s previous decisions harmed Palestinians, including moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing it as Israel’s capital, and cutting funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
These actions helped isolate the Palestinian Authority and weaken its political demands.
The paper expressed concerns that Trump might continue or intensify these policies, such as reducing international support for Palestinians or backing more settlement expansion.
For Palestinians, this could worsen political, economic, and humanitarian challenges.
Trump is also known for his strong stance against resistance factions.
After the death of Hamas leader Yehya Sinwar, Trump called it a crucial step toward regional stability.
For now, Palestinians are left waiting.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas congratulated Trump, saying he looks forward to working with him for peace and security in the region.