Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit hopes for an “immediate” ceasefire in Lebanon that will end the people’s ordeal.
“We will not wait too long to achieve the desired breakthrough because the situation is dangerous…,” Abul Gheit told reporters after meeting Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese House.
The Arab League official also criticized the UN Security Council’s failure to take action against Israel’s attack on UN peacekeepers and posts in southern Lebanon.
He called for the immediate implementation of UN Resolution 1701. The resolution bans the presence of the Lebanese Hezbollah militia in the border area with Israel and gives exclusive authority to the Lebanese army and the United Nation Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) south of the Litani River. .
The UN mission monitors the border area between Lebanon and Israel. More than 10,000 UN soldiers from more than 50 countries are involved.
“Resolution 1701 is crucial and must be implemented literally and as quickly as possible. We will not allow the brutality with which UNIFIL was treated in southern Lebanon,” Abul Gheit said.
The Arab diplomat was asked if he believes Hezbollah has been destroyed by Israel, but he replied: “You cannot destroy an idea.”
The UN mission monitors the border area between Lebanon and Israel. More than 10,000 UN soldiers from more than 50 countries are involved.
