“Israels” criminal activities in Lebanon warrant stronger UN condemnation

    Lebanon s spring offensive against -Israeli- spies has extended into summer and shows no signs of abating by fall. What began in April with several high-profile arrests has expanded into a nationwide campaign in which dozens of suspects have been arrested for collaborating with -Israeli-intelligence services.

On Wednesday as the Lebanese press was narrating the most recent cloak and dagger story of an army officer who allegedly crossed to -Israel-, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Michael Williams, was delivering remarks about spies in Lebanon at the organization's headquarters in New York. 

Calling the reported uncovering of -Israeli- spy networks -deeply disturbing,- Williams noted the "great unease and worry- this has caused among Lebanese. -If these allegations are confirmed in court, this will constitute a very serious violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and consequently undermine relevant Security Council resolutions," he said. 

Although some of the arrests may prove to be unsubstantiated, many spies have been caught red-handed, with equipment and through communications and confessions.
At least 30 people in Lebanon have been detained on suspicion of collaborating with "Israel" since a high-profile security crackdown was launched earlier this year. At least 15 people, including a number of Lebanese government officials, have been formally charged. 

In separate statements last week, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry and Hizbullah criticized Ban Ki-Moon's report for not sufficiently addressing the seriousness of "Israel's" spy operations. In the two paragraphs pertaining to the issue, Ban neither condemned "Israel's" covert networks "as being a threat to Lebanese sovereignty nor as a violation of the resolution," a statement from the Foreign Ministry said last Wednesday.

Of course, the UN has no business or desire to interfere in what is a domestic issue - the arrest, prosecution and punishment of "Israeli" spies. But the body does have obligations. In fact, it is incumbent on the UN to find out the truth because it is the custodian of Resolution 1701. The UN is invested and indeed partially responsible for stability in South Lebanon, which is profoundly challenged by the presence of "Israeli" agents. 

Williams said that the conviction of a spy would confirm that "Israel" was illegally operating in Lebanon and grossly violating its international obligations. When the first sentence is read, the UN and the international community should meaningfully condemn and discipline "Israel" for its actions, because they are not just violations of agreements, but serious obstacles on the Lebanese national path to sovereignty and stability.