Lebanon's Salam calls at UN for a timetable for Israeli withdrawal
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called at the UN General Assembly for Israeli forces to leave Lebanese territory, the ceasefire to be consolidated and detainees to be released. He asked for a clear timetable and a mechanism to verify the US-mediated framework agreement. Salam also sought an international arrangement to avoid a security gap in the south when the UN force's operations are scheduled to end this year.
Geopolitics··Evening
Salam demands withdrawal at the UN
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told the United Nations General Assembly on Friday that Israeli forces should withdraw from all Lebanese territory to the internationally recognised border. He invoked the 1949 armistice line and UN Security Council Resolution 1701. He called for the ceasefire to be consolidated, Lebanese detainees to be released, displaced residents to return and damaged areas to be rebuilt. These are demands in his speech, not findings that withdrawal has happened.[1], [2]
The June framework needs a timetable
Salam said the framework reached with US mediation in June provides for a gradual Israeli withdrawal and deployment of Lebanon's army in vacated southern areas. He asked for its provisions to become concrete steps with a clear timetable and a mechanism that checks their implementation. He also said only Lebanon's constitutional institutions should decide war and peace and hold the country's weapons. Only the state could speak and negotiate for Lebanon, he said.[1], [2]
UN force departure raises a gap
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, the mission that monitors the south, is scheduled to end operations this year. Salam warned that its departure without an agreed successor international force could leave a security gap. He called for monitoring, reporting and liaison functions to continue.[1], [2]
