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Oh, and the EU is providing the bulk of the new UNIFIL.

Will UNIFIL reduce the risk of terrorism to Europe?
I doubt it. DoDo makes a good point on how peacekeeping looks from the ground.

by Joerg in Berlin ((joerg.wolf [AT] atlanticreview.org)) on Thu Sep 14th, 2006 at 06:52:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Are you the same person who often asks why the EU doesn't commit troops to Darfur?

I think UNIFIL is more likely to piss off Israel then the Lebanese. It already has.

Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. — Euripides

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 14th, 2006 at 06:55:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Well, not (yet) pissing off, but read this:

According to Alexander Ivanko, spokesman for the UN interim force in Lebanon (Unifil), there have been more than 100 recorded ceasefire violations by Israeli forces in the last month. These have been mostly over-flights and incursions by tanks, troops and bulldozers. Mr Ivanko said that 24 Lebanese civilians - including four men from Aita al-Shaab - had been detained at gunpoint by Israeli troops. All were later released.

In addition to the incursions, there have also been a number of shooting incidents - described by the residents of Aita al-Shaab as "intimidation fire".

...Talk of the UN met with a similar lack of enthusiasm. "We don't know them and they don't know us - so how can their be any real trust between us? They will not stand against the Israelis; they are Europeans that are coming now," said Kalamia. Villagers had seen UN troops roll through the village without stopping a few days earlier. "They have come and gone before, it's the same old story. Whether they're here or not, it doesn't make any difference to us," said Fatmeh Srour.

If UNIFIL would block IDF tank incursions, that would indeed constitute a move lessening the terrorism threat, by changing perceptions.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Thu Sep 14th, 2006 at 07:19:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re your first sentence: Please, read my atlanticreview diaries again.
Re your second sentence: So far it was the other way around. Israel is happy to have basically NATO babysitters at its borders. Let me write a new diary about it. Otherwise we are getting too off-topic here.
by Joerg in Berlin ((joerg.wolf [AT] atlanticreview.org)) on Thu Sep 14th, 2006 at 07:35:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]
We saw a couple of days ago Israel is unhappy that France and Italy will actually be deployed armoured vehicles and anti-aircraft missiles.

But I agree, this is a diversion.

Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. — Euripides

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Sep 14th, 2006 at 07:40:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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