Israel Matzav

Israel turns over maps of minefields in southern Lebanon

Earlier today, quietly, Israel turned over maps of minefields it laid in southern Lebanon between 1982-2000, in compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701:

A statement issued by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon said Israel's army provided the maps to the peacekeepers at a meeting of Lebanese, UNIFIL and Israeli generals at the force's headquarters in the border town of Naqoura.

The statement said UNIFIL in turn handed over the maps to the UN Mine Action Coordination Center and the Lebanese army for review.

"The Israelis have said this should cover everything," Milos Strugar, senior adviser to the UNIFIL commander, told The Associated Press. But he withheld judgment pending the review.

But this doesn't mean that the demands for maps have ended:

Israel twice previously provided maps - following the 2000 withdrawal and in 2004 as part of a prisoner swap with Hezbollah. But both the Lebanese government and Hezbollah repeatedly demanded that Israel give full disclosure on the matter.

In other words, regardless of how many maps Israel provides, there will undoubtedly be claims made that more are needed as a pretext for continuing attacks.

Debbie Schlussel is outraged.

Nothing. Does this sound like a fair trade to you?:

2 Israeli soldiers are kidnapped and many more are killed by Hezbollah terrorists. Meanwhile, rockets continue to be shelled over Israel by Hezbollah, as they have been for over a decade.

Israel invades. Israel leaves.

Now, Israel gives Lebanon maps of minefields it has laid in Lebanon for over the last two decades. That took place, yesterday.

In return, Israel gets continued shelling and NO return of the two Israeli soldiers--we don't even know whether they are alive or dead. And Israel is considering soon turning over a host of Palestinian and Hezbollah terrorists, setting them free. And it will likely give the Shebaa Farms portion of Northern Israel (in the Golan Heights) to the Syrians.

Read it all.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:59 PM