UNIFIL must be strengthened with new
rules of engagement, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto told the
Senate on Thursday as he reported on Israel's recent attacks on
the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, which features a
1,000-strong Italian contingent.
"UNIFIL must be strengthened and the Lebanese forces made more
credible," Crosetto said.
"New rules of engagement are needed. Israel should help us
strengthen UNIFIL, which must be able to exercise real
deterrence to the use of force.
"Israel must abide by the rules of international law and protect
the civilian population, in Gaza as in Lebanon, and the UN
contingent".
Israel has told UNIFIL to leave border areas where it is
combatting Hezbollah.
But Crosetto said that 'leaving now would undermine the
credibility of the UN".
He added, however, that "evacuation plans have been updated,
tested and are ready to be implemented if necessary".
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