Diplomatic sources in Jerusalem said Monday evening that a report to be published Monday by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will grant the multinational force operating in Lebanon
the right to open fire, thereby complying with Israeli demands. Sources in Jerusalem expressed satisfaction over the decision.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
spoke with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, over the issue of the multinational force in Lebanon, and asked that Italy be the country that leads the force. France asked Finland, currently holding the EU presidency, to hold a conference over the issue of the makeup of the force sent by the European Union.
UN forces on the northern border (Photo: Niv Kaldron)
The prime minister stressed that Israel viewed the sending of Italian forces as vital to the realization of Security Council Resolution 1701, "and this will be an important contribution to peace and stability in the Middle East."
Olmert added that it was important the force reach the area as soon as possible, and that Italy should also send forces to monitor one of the border passages between Syria and Lebanon.
The Italian prime minister said he intended on sending a significant army force, to carry out the mission, and that he planned on passing the issue in the Italian parliament as soon as possible. The two prime ministers agreed that the issue should be brought forward quickly and agreed to remain in touch in the coming days.