Netanyahu to tell UN: We'll withdraw from Ghajar soon
Israeli premier expected to present Ban with plan for withdrawal from northern sector of divided village on Lebanese border
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to present UN chief Ban Ki-moon with Israel's plan to withdraw from the northern sector of the village of Ghajar, Ynet reported Sunday.
A border drawn by the United Nations in 2000 split Ghajar between Lebanon and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Israel has occupied all of Ghajar since its 2006 war with Hezbollah terrorists.
Netanyahu is expected to present the plan during his meeting with Ban at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday. The plan has been discussed with UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon.
The PM plans to bring the plan before a decision-making inner Cabinet next week following his return from the US. Israel pledged to leave Ghajar under the UN resolution ending the 2006 war.
Knesset Member Arieh Eldad (National Union) said, "The prime minister of Israel is abandoning the country's citizens to Hezbollah's cruelty. Tomorrow this will be done to the West Bank Jews and the next day in Jerusalem as well.
"Ceding territories belonging to the State of Israel cannot be a kickback the prime minister offers to appease international elements," he said.
Last year some 1,800 residents of Ghajar protested against the plan to divide the village and hand over its northern section to UNIFIL control. The demonstrators marched through both sections of the village in protest of the plan.
Council and residents spokesman, Najib Hatib, told Ynet that the residents are determined to prevent the division of their village and UN entry into the village. "We are prepared to die, but this division will not come to be," he said.
Roni Sofer, AP contributed to the report
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