asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken regarding the recent attacks on Irish troops serving with the United Nations in the Lebanon; if he has protested to the Israeli Government; if he is satisfied that the United Nations mandate under which the Irish troops have to operate gives them the necessary protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Irish Contingent in UNIFIL.
557.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was established in 1978 for the purpose of confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces, restoring international peace and security and assisting the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area. Although UNIFIL has never been allowed to implement fully its mandate, it did succeed in reducing the level of violence in its area of operation and, since the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, it has provided protection and humanitarian assistance to the civilian population there.
UNIFIL now finds itself operating in an area which is the focus of an intensifying guerrilla war between Shiite resistance groups on the one hand and the Israeli Army (IDF) and Israeli backed militia on the other. Despite these difficult circumstances the United Nations Security Council decided in April to renew UNIFIL's mandate for a further six months. The Secretary General of the United Nations at that time described the role of UNIFIL as essential.
In my view UNIFIL continues to play a vital role in Southern Lebanon and is an important and recognised factor for stability there.
Israel is scheduled to complete its withdrawal from Southern Lebanon in early June. It is important that Israel not only withdraws fully but that its withdrawal is orderly and co-ordinated with the Lebanese authorities. It is my hope that, following Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon, UNIFIL will be in a position to operate to its full level of effectiveness and to carry out all the tasks that have been assigned to it by the international community.
In the meantime UNIFIL operates in difficult circumstances and, at times, UNIFIL personnel may not be free from the dangers inherent in any international peacekeeping operation. The Government continues to monitor developments in Lebanon which could affect the safety of our troops serving there. A number of incidents involving the Israeli Defence Force and Israeli-backed militias which have endangered or threatened the safety and wellbeing of Irish UNIFIL troops have been of particular concern. All such incidents have been brought to the attention of the Israeli authorities. Concern has been conveyed and protests have been made where necessary. These representations have been made both by UNIFIL on the ground in southern Lebanon and at a diplomatic level with Israeli representatives in Dublin and London. All such representations are made with the aim of securing the future safety of Irish UNIFIL personnel and to allowing the force to carry out the tasks assigned to it by the international community. The Government will continue to monitor the situation in southern Lebanon and will take whatever steps may be necessary to minimise the risks to Irish troops serving there.