Peace force 'could be new target'

2006-08-10 08:13

United Nations - Security council wrangling over how to halt the Israel-Hezbollah war is one of many monumental tasks to be overcome before an international force can be deployed in Lebanon.

There is no political settlement in sight, no apparent queue of contributors and experts warned that international peacekeepers could just become a replacement target for Hezbollah in south Lebanon once Israeli forces are back over the border.

Top United Nations officials are reluctant to talk about peacekeeping in Lebanon while the UN security council has not decided how to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah which have left more than 1 000 dead in the past four weeks.

No mandate

The debate about an international force is just "a guessing game" while the security council has not agreed on a mandate, a UN source told AFP.

"No one is really talking about a new force. Where are the troops going to come from, what will they do" without a mandate, added the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The United States wants one security council resolution to call for an end of hostilities and a follow up to set out guidelines for any international force.

Israel has demanded a "robust" force of at least 15 000 soldiers that can keep Hezbollah fighters away from positions where they can attack Israel.

Lebanon's plan

Lebanon has countered with a plan to deploy 15 000 of its own troops which it says reduces the need for anything other than a strengthened version of the current UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

UNIFIL, which faces fuel and other supply shortages that could force it to virtually halt its operation this weekend, currently has about 1 190 troops.

'Same war with different uniforms'

Bill Durch, a specialist on peacekeeping operations at the Henry L Stimson Centre, a Washington think-tank, fears that any UN operation could become a replacement target for Hezbollah after any Israeli withdrawal.

Without a global political settlement that also takes into account the Palestinian crisis and other regional problems, "if Hezbollah decides to keep fighting then you are going to see the same war with different uniforms," Durch told AFP.

'Fighting a cancer that does not give up'

Referring to Hezbollah's Syrian and Iranian backers, the expert said: "The radicals have to be convinced by their leaders, by their suppliers, by being beaten to their knees that their ultimate goal (Israel's destruction) is not achievable."

But analysts say such a settlement is not likely and according to Durch likened the international force's task to "fighting a cancer that does not give up. Hezbollah are not going to give up".

Finding volunteers another problem

Finding countries to volunteer troops for such a large venture could become another major problem. Four UNIFIL troops from China, Canada, Finland and Austria have already been killed in one Israeli bombardment of their position. Others have been wounded.

"I don't see anybody marching forward," said Durch, who added that France would be a natural leader of the peacekeeping army.

"I would like to see every major power put in troops," added the expert who has acted as a consultant to the United Nations on peacekeeping. But the United States has already indicated it will not make an offer and Britain is also stretched in Iraq and Afghanistan.

- AFP