Posted on 07/13/2008 6:35:16 AM PDT by SJackson
In what is being interpreted in Israel as a declaration of ownership, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has built a road and set up a military position in the Shaba Farms/ Mount Dov area for the first time since Israel's withdrawal from that part of Lebanon in 2000.
Israeli defense officials confirmed the move, which was first reported in the Lebanese media, but would not comment on its significance.
According to the reports, the LAF paved a road into the Bastara Farm, which is on the Lebanese side of the Blue Line international border and lies just 300 meters away from the land that Israel conquered in 1967.
Mount Dov - 20 square kilometers of mountains on the northeast border - was conquered by Israel from Syria during the Six Day War. Israel says the land belongs to Syria, while Hizbullah claims it belongs to Lebanon. Syria and Lebanon have not resolved the issue between them.
On Friday, The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel was categorically opposed to a European proposal to transfer the land to the United Nations until ownership issue was clarified. "The Shaba Farms are of vital strategic importance for Israel and therefore have security significance. Handing the land over to the UN means that Hizbullah will be there," a top defense official had said.
does the u.n. favor hezbollah
over barak?
of course.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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Not significant in itself, but hopefully not a sign of increased Hizbollah influence
Lebanon has an army?
75-80,000 strong, and reasonably modern. They've chosed not to engage Israel of late (or Hizbollah as they're obligated to), but you can't rule that possibility out.
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