Ban Avoids Censuring Israeli Cells, Says Hezbollah a ‘Serious Challenge’

Ban Avoids Censuring Israeli Cells, Says Hezbollah a ‘Serious Challenge’
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01/07/2009 Israel does not deny accusations that dozens of agents arrested recently in Lebanon were spying on its behalf, according to a report published by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The report, which Ban sent to the UN Security Council on Monday night, addresses the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which outlined conditions for a halt of hostilities between the Zionist state and Lebanon after the 2006 Israeli war.

The UN chief refrained from criticizing Israel.

Ban's report settled for expressing “concern about Lebanon's claims regarding the suspected espionage ring.” Ban said that, if the allegations are proven, it would endanger what he called “the fragile truce” between Israel and Lebanon.

The report also describes the chain of diplomatic correspondence between the UN, Lebanon and Israel on the subject, including a May 20 letter in which Lebanon detailed to the UN its arrest of 35 Lebanese and Palestinian nationals that were part of Israeli espionage rings.

Lebanese authorities in recent months have dismantled dozens of Israeli Mossad networks in an anti-espionage campaign. Many of suspects have confessed to collaborating with the Israeli intelligence and been charged with crimes that would likely send them to the gallows.

Instead of accusing Israel and holding it responsible for violating the sovereignty of a member state and blatantly breaching international resolution 1701, Ban accused resistance party Hezbollah of having capabilities that pose a “serious challenge” to the Lebanese state and its authority across Lebanon.
Ban, who called on Israel to stop its violation of Lebanese sovereignty, expressed his belief that “all armed groups must be disarmed” in the framework of a political process led by Lebanon, signaling the arms of the resistance.

The UN chief, who called the Israeli forces occupying the town of Ghajar as “the Israeli Defense Forces”, expressed concern at the continuation of the occupation and stressed the need for a pullout without delay. He pointed out that UNIFIL was “unable to monitor any illegal crossing of the Blue Line,” thus, “the peacekeeping force could not deny or confirm any Israeli activity in Lebanon.”