UNSCR 1701, the resolution which is the source of the cease-fire that Annan is referring to, did not only call for a cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, though. The resolution also required:
The full implementation of the provisions in UNSCR 1559 (02 September 2004) calling for all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias to be disbanded and disarmed.
The full implementation of the provisions in UNSCR 1680 (17 May 2006) calling for further efforts to have all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias disbanded and disarmed, and the restoration of the Lebanese government's control over all of Lebanon.
The prohibition of all States to allow the "sale or supply to any entity or individual in Lebanon of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned, whether or not originating in their territories."
The prohibition of all States to provide any technical training or assistance to any individual or group in Lebanon in relation to the prohibited assets listed in the previous paragraph.
The establishment of a DMZ between the Litani River and the Blue Line (the border demarcation between Israel and Lebanon that the UN used to confirm that Israel had fully withdrawn from Lebanon in accordance with UNSCR 425) that would prohibit anyone, other than the authorized representatives of the Lebanese government and UNIFIL, to be in possession of arms or other military assets.
If the Israeli reason for the raid on Hezbollah is accurate, then there were violations of UNSCR 1701 prior to the Israeli raid.
VIOLATION OF PARAGRAPHS 3 AND 8 OF UNSCR 1701
The smuggling of arms to Hezbollah would be a violation of UNSCR 1701, paragraphs 3 and 8, since those paragraphs call for the implementation of UNSCRs 1559 and 1680 which demand the disarming and disbanding of groups such as Hezbollah.
VIOLATION OF PARAGRAPH 15(a) OF UNSCR 1701
The smuggling of arms to Hezbollah would be a violation of UNSCR 1701, paragraph 15(a), since it prohibits the supply of arms and military assets to groups such as Hezbollah.
The Lebanese Ambassador to the UN, Nouhad Mahmoud, stated before the cease-fire took effect that Lebanon was not going to disarm Hezbollah. Instead, Hezbollah would just leave the area with their arms and assets. Ambassador Mahmoud's statement made it clear that his nation was not going to adhere to all of the requirements of the cease-fire, yet Kofi Annan did not condemn this.
Iran and Syria, if arms were being smuggled from their territories to Hezbollah positions in Lebanon as Israel alleges, have violated the cease-fire agreement. Kofi Annan did not condemn their actions.
Israel may have just stopped a major violation of the cease-fire, not-to-mention taking an action which may have saved the lives of their own citizens by preventing Hezbollah from getting arms that could be used in future attacks against Israel. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev noted that Israel will not need to take these actions once the Lebanese army and international forces are active. For this, Kofi Annan finds the words and the time to condemn Israel.
USMC 9971 OUT
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