U.N. Backs Israel’s Position On Border Clash

Arab and Muslim governments that accused Israel of aggression against Lebanon this week did not withdraw their accusations Wednesday, despite confirmation from U.N. peacekeepers that Lebanese troops opened fire on Israeli soldiers who were on the Israeli side of the international border.

An Israeli lieutenant-colonel was shot dead when Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) across the border opened fire Tuesday. In retaliation, Israel returned fire, killing two Lebanese sergeants and a journalist.

The two sides disputed whether the location of the Israelis when fired upon was on the Lebanese or Israeli side of the internationally recognized border, the Blue Line.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) affirmed Wednesday that the incident happen in Israeli territory, prompting the U.S. State Department to denounce the firing by the LAF as “wholly unjustified and unwarranted.”

But there was silence from the Arab and Islamic governments and organizations, which had blamed Israel for the incident.

UNIFIL military spokesperson Lt. Col. Naresh Bhatt said Wednesday that after an investigation at the location of the firefight UNIFIL had established “that the trees being cut by the Israeli Army are located south of the Blue Line on the Israeli side.”

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