Another attack on Unifil by the Israeli army. A tank hit a position in southern Lebanon, near Kafer Kala, where the Spanish contingent is stationed. "An IDF Merkava tank fired at the watchtower. Two cameras were destroyed and the tower was damaged," Unifil reported, denouncing in this case too, as in previous attacks, "direct and apparently deliberate fire on one of our positions."

The Israeli military continues to reiterate that the UNIFIL peacekeepers in Lebanon are "not a target."

These words do not convince the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, who today in his report to the Senate does not tone it down: " Italy has reiterated that it recognizes Israel's right to resist and defend itself from attacks by anyone. At the same time, we have asked Israel to abide by the rules of international law and to protect the innocent civilian population, in Gaza as in Lebanon, and the UN contingent." "We continue to work on a diplomatic solution that, however difficult, is the only possible one," he continues. " Unifil must be strengthened and the Lebanese forces made more credible. New rules of engagement are needed and must be respected. We say to Israel to help us strengthen Unifil and the Lebanese forces to do peacefully what it is doing with weapons."

"I wanted to highlight the need for an incisive and rapid intervention by the United Nations that would put Unifil in a position to exercise a real deterrent to the use of force," he continued. "This could be achieved by providing for various operational options, such as the presence of a rapidly deployable reserve in southern Lebanon, thus guaranteeing the full freedom of maneuver of the units and adapting equipment and supplies to the environment in which they operate."

"I want it to be clear and to be on record - the conclusion - our participation in Unifil is not in question, which will continue as long as there is a need and the United Nations, together with the 50 contributing States, do not decide otherwise. Leaving now would bring no benefit and would undermine, perhaps definitively, the credibility of the United Nations itself".

(Unioneonline/D)

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