February28, 2007:
The 10,000 UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon are being criticized
by both the Israelis and Hizbollah, so they must be doing something right. The
Israelis are upset because the peacekeepers have not, as per the ceasefire
agreement, disarmed Hizbollah forces in southern Lebanon. Hizbollah is upset
because the peacekeepers have not stopped Israeli reconnaissance aircraft from
flying over southern Lebanon, and have stopped Hizbollah from building or
repairing bunkers and rocker storage and launching facilities. The peacekeepers
have also restricted the movement of Hizbollah fighters, and the movement of
munitions (especially rockets.) Hizbollah has by their own admission (and
confirmed by the Israelis) replaced the 4,000 rockets they fired into Israel
last Summer, and then some. But the peacekeepers won't let Hizbollah bring
those rockets south and install them in bunkers, in preparation for another
attack. Some Hizbollah weapons caches have been seized, but most have already
been moved north. The Lebanese are also unhappy that the peacekeepers won't
fire at Israeli troops who are firing at Hizbollah fighters operating close to
the border. Hizbollah also complains that some of the European peacekeepers are
Jewish, and thus Israeli agents.
The
peacekeepers are not looking for a fight with Hizbollah, but do patrol the area
regularly, and will confront any open Hizbollah activity they encounter. Since
the peacekeepers, especially the French, are more heavily armed, and
intimidating, the Hizbollah guys have, so far, backed down. Apparently the
French government has let it be known that, if fired on, the French troops will
respond "vigorously." There are rumors that Hizbollah is planning attacks on
the peacekeepers, in an attempt to intimidate them. Thus far, t he only
violence has been pro-Hizbollah Lebanese Shia children throwing rocks are UN
patrols. Lebanese Christians and Shia, however, are happy to see the
peacekeepers.
The
peacekeepers don't patrol much at night, and Hizbollah personnel tend to be
very active at night. Israel believes that Hizbollah is moving in weapons at
night and hiding them, but it has not yet turned over any proof to the UN
peacekeepers.