MARJAYOUN, Lebanon: Spanish Ambassador to Lebanon Juan Carlos Gafo described Tuesday the attack against the Italian peacekeeping forces in south Lebanon as an assault aimed at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the Lebanese state.
Gafo added that aside from the roadside bomb, which wounded six Italian soldiers on the Sidon highway May 27, the situation in south Lebanon was seen as stable by the UNIFIL command.
Gafo hailed cooperation between the Lebanese Army and the UNIFIL command, praising the army’s efforts to preserve security on the Lebanese-Israeli border last Sunday, the anniversary of the defeat of Arab armies by Israel in the 1967 war.
The Lebanese Army closed the area around the southern border, preventing demonstrations by Palestinian refugees over fears that a security incident on the border could be exploited by Israel to attack Lebanon. The Palestinians canceled the march they had planned to the Blue Line, holding a general strike instead.
Eleven Palestinian protesters were killed and 112 were wounded by Israeli troops on Lebanon’s border with Israel May 15, when thousands of Palestinians marched to the frontier to mark 63 years of expulsion from Palestinians.
Gafo voiced his hope that a new government would be established promptly to strengthen the country’s stability and confront attempts to meddle with its security, urging the Lebanese political parties to reach an agreement over the Cabinet in the interest of Lebanon.
Gafo was speaking during a visit to Marjayoun to inaugurate the establishment of a Spanish-funded solid waste treatment plant in the area.
The plant, which will cost 1.5 million euros and process 25 tons of waste daily from eight municipalities in the Marjayoun districts, is vital to fighting pollution, according to Gafo.
A garbage crisis recently intensified in Marjayoun after Sidon’s city dump, which is the dumping site for many surrounding towns, exceeded its capacity a few months ago. A solid waste treatment plant in the areas is still not in operation, as concerned parties have yet to reach an agreement over the price the municipality will pay per ton of waste processed.
The Spanish ambassador added that Spain was also participating in several other developmental projects in south Lebanon including the removal of land mines.
Marjayoun Municipality head Moussa Shite said that close bonds have always existed between the UNIFIL troops and the southern residents, who have condemned the brutal attack on the Italian contingent.