Israel Matzav

Olmert rejects UNIFIL troops from countries without relations

Al-AP is reporting this evening that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has announced that Israel will not accept 'peacekeepers' in Lebanon from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with it.

The decision was made by the 'inner cabinet.'

"We will not agree that countries which do not have relations with Israel will participate in the multinational force," Olmert was quoted as saying by one official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media.

This has the effect of rejecting the offers of troops from Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh, none of which have diplomatic relations with Israel.

The United Nations has been pressing European countries to commit to providing troops to balance the commitment from Muslim countries.

Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Mark Regev warned this evening that the hudna could be in danger if the troops do not deploy quickly.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:16 PM