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If UNIFIL Expands Mandate, Few Countries Will Send Troops
(Jerusalem Post) Herb Keinon - Israel knows it is unrealistic to change the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from a monitoring force to one that will actively stop Hizbullah from burrowing tunnels into Israel, since few countries would then volunteer their forces for such a mission, said a senior diplomatic official whose country contributes forces to UNIFIL. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Israeli Cabinet Sunday that Israel is conducting a diplomatic campaign to condemn Hizbullah and its patron Iran, and to impose sanctions on them both. One diplomatic source said that the thrust of this diplomatic push is to get international recognition that by digging tunnels into Israel, Hizbullah has clearly violated Security Council Resolution 1701. That would give Israel legitimacy if it is forced to take military action inside Lebanon in response to uncovering the tunnels. Israel is working with the U.S. and others to convene the UN Security Council to acknowledge that Hizbullah carried out an offensive action against Israeli sovereignty.