UN / BLUE LINE TUNNELS

The Spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres told reporters that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have so far discovered four tunnels, two of which UNIFIL technical teams have confirmed cross the Blue Line in violation of Security Council resolution 1701. UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:36
• Production Date: 17 December 2018
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: STEPHANE DUJARRIC
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON - UNIFIL
• Subject Topical: BORDER INCIDENTS
• Geographic Subject: ISRAEL; LEBANON
• MAMS Id: 2335024
• Parent Id: 2335024
• Alternate Title: unifeed181217f

Description

STORY: UN / BLUE LINE TUNNELS
TRT: 01:36
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 17 DECEMBER 2018, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

17 DECEMBER 2018, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Stéphane Dujarric at the podium
3. Wide shot, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General:
“The IDF has informed the UN peacekeeping mission that they have so far discovered four tunnels along the Blue Line. UNIFIL technical teams have undertaken a number of site inspections south of the Blue Line in order to ascertain the facts. Based on the UN’s independent assessment, the peacekeepers have so far confirmed the existence of all the four tunnels close to the Blue Line in northern Israel. Further technical investigations conducted independently in accordance with its mandate, UNIFIL at this stage can confirm that two of the tunnels cross the Blue Line. These constitute violations of UN Security Council resolution 1701.”
5. Med shot, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General:
“This is a matter of serious concern and UNIFIL’s technical investigations are continuing. The UN peacekeeping missions has requested the Lebanese authorities to ensure urgent follow actions in accordance to the responsibilities of the government of Lebanon pursuant to Security Council resolution 1701. T situation in UNIFIL’s area remains calm. The UN’s leadership is fully engaged with the parties to ensure stability along the Blue Line and prevent misunderstandings in order to keep the area of operation calm.”
7. Wide shot, journalists
8. Wide shot, Dujarric at the podium

Storyline

The Spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres today (17 Dec) told reporters that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have so far discovered four tunnels, two of which UNIFIL technical teams have confirmed cross the Blue Line in violation of Security Council resolution 1701.

The Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said, “the IDF has informed the UN peacekeeping mission that they have so far discovered four tunnels along the Blue Line. UNIFIL technical teams have undertaken a number of site inspections south of the Blue Line in order to ascertain the facts. Based on the UN’s independent assessment, the peacekeepers have so far confirmed the existence of all the four tunnels close to the Blue Line in northern Israel. Further technical investigations conducted independently in accordance with its mandate, UNIFIL at this stage can confirm that two of the tunnels cross the Blue Line. These constitute violations of UN Security Council resolution 1701.”

Dujarric said the matter is “of serious concern and UNIFIL’s technical investigations are continuing.”

He said, “the UN peacekeeping missions has requested the Lebanese authorities to ensure urgent follow actions in accordance to the responsibilities of the government of Lebanon pursuant to Security Council resolution 1701. T situation in UNIFIL’s area remains calm. The UN’s leadership is fully engaged with the parties to ensure stability along the Blue Line and prevent misunderstandings in order to keep the area of operation calm.”

Following an invasion by Israeli forces into Lebanon, the Security Council, in March 1978, established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandating it to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, restore international peace and security, and assist the Lebanese Government to restore its effective authority in the area. In June 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon for the second time and subsequently established a security zone inside the country, which remained until its withdrawal in 2000.

The line of withdrawal or the Blue line, as it is more commonly known, was established in the year 2000 to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon.