Fourth Committee -- Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects (Agenda Item 33)

Thank you Mr. Chairman.

At the outset, allow me to congratulate you on your able stewardship of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and extend my compliments to the members of the Bureau and the chairperson of the working group.

I would especially like to note our appreciation for the important work related to the New Partnership Agenda paper. In addition, Israel wishes to take this opportunity to thank Under-Secretary-General LeRoy and Under-Secretary General Malcorra for their informative and important contribution to this discussion.

Mr. Chairman,

Peacekeeping missions are growing in size, scope and complexity while at the same time, we increasingly confront shortages of personnel and resources. The synergy of such challenges makes evaluating the situation on the ground and prioritizing objectives ever more important for the success of peacekeeping missions.

As we reflect on the past and consider the future of peacekeeping, Israel –– as a member of the C34 Committee –– would like to reiterate its commitment for restructuring the DPKO into two entities: Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support.

In that regard, Israel is proud to offer its assistance to the DPKO and will continue to explore new options in order to expand our participation in peacekeeping missions as we did last year with the UN Observer Mission in Georgia.

Mr. Chairman,

Israel is no stranger to the difficult and delicate circumstances in which UN peacekeepers conduct their work. In this regard, Israel remains committed to the full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701 and we continue to offer our full support to the UNIFIL troops in southern Lebanon.

While the success of a robust UNIFIL is important, UNIFIL in many ways is one test case of the ability of the international community to engage in such robust peacekeeping operations.

As such, Israel remains deeply concerned by ongoing trends to our north as disturbing developments take place within UNIFIL’s area of operation in southern Lebanon and beyond.

The explosion in July of a Hizbullah munitions depot south of the Litani River in the village of Khirbat Salim leaves no questions or doubts as to Hizbullah’s ongoing rearmament south of the Litani.

Only two weeks ago, another clear example of this phenomenon took place when an explosion ripped through a civilian structure in the Lebanese village of Tayr Filsi, south of the Litani River. The house in question belonged to Hizbullah operative Abdel Nasser Issa and served as an arms storage facility of Hizbullah.

In the aftermath of both explosions, Hizbullah operatives sough to remove evidence and prevent UNIFIL personnel from reaching the weapons storages, thus hindering UNIFIL’s ability to fulfill its mission and mandate.

Such alarming developments pose a threat to security in our region.

In light of the Khirbat Salim and Tayr Filsi explosions, Israel firmly believes that in order for UNIFIL to successfully carry out its mandate, resolution 1701 must be scrupulously implemented, including the full disarmament and dismantling of Hizbullah, as well as the complete enforcement of the arms embargo.

To this end, a timetable should establish deadlines and benchmarks to disarm and dismantle Hizbullah and other armed groups so that they do not threaten regional stability.

Mr. Chairman,

In addition to UNIFIL ongoing efforts, the presence of UNDOF contributes to the stability in our region since 1974. UNDOF is a successful peacekeeping mission that continues to play an important role in stabilizing the Israeli-Syrian border.

In this forum, we wish to congratulate both UNIFIL and UNDOF force commanders for the dedicated ongoing efforts to maintain stability in our region.

On a broader level Israel would like to extend its gratitude and appreciation to the troop contributing countries and ultimately, to the men and women of the UN’s peacekeeping operations who have nobly served in one of the most important missions of the United Nations.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.