UN peacekeeping force says ready to assist Israel-Lebanon talks

The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon says it is prepared to assist in the proposed direct talks between Israel and Lebanon over the country’s maritime border.

“The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon welcomes today’s announcement of a framework agreement to launch negotiations between Lebanon and Israel on maritime and land border demarcation between the two countries,” a spokesman for the organization says.

“UNIFIL stands ready to extend to the parties all the support at its disposal and facilitate efforts towards a resolution of this upcoming negotiations and move forward with Blue Line demarcation,” he adds.

UNIFIL is technically charged with ensuring the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War and called for the removal of Hezbollah and all other armed groups from southern Lebanon, but due to limitations of its mandate often serves instead as a mediator between Israel and Lebanon, which do not have official ties.

— Judah Ari Gross