We are fully aware of the problems military operations in civilian areas may cause to the people, Major General Alberto Asarta Cuevas, the Force Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), stated in an open letter to the people living in the countrys south.

Last week, villagers reportedly staged numerous protests against the Force as it carried out its maximum deployment exercise, a routine activity to ensure the readiness of its troops on the ground.

The UN has stated that particular care is taken to minimize disturbance or inconvenience to the local population during the exercise, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are fully informed of the activity, its nature and purpose.

Major General Asarta Cuevas said that while UNIFIL takes all possible measures to mitigate any inconveniences to residents, problems may arise.

The way to deal with those problems is to discuss them directly with UNIFIL, as we have always done in order to find amicable solutions, not by obstructing the work of peacekeepers or by beating them, he wrote.

UNIFIL is tasked with, among other things, monitoring the 2006 ceasefire between Israel and Hizbollah; accompanying and supporting the LAF as they deploy throughout the south; and extending its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons.

The Force Commander noted that while these activities may sometimes cause some disturbances, there will never be any hidden agenda behind them.

Our presence in Lebanon has no other purpose than helping you to live in peace, contributing with all our means to your protection and the stability of the area, he said.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams has insisted that the freedom of movement of UNIFIL be ensured, pointing out that its exercise was carried out as part of its normal operations and with full respect of its mandate.

During their meeting in Beirut yesterday, Mr. Williams and Lebanese Defence Minister Elias Murr agreed that the excellent cooperation between UNIFIL and LAF over the past four years has been the backbone of the stability that has prevailed in south Lebanon.

This cooperation, we believe, must be maintained and enhanced, said Mr. Williams.

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At least 45 people have reportedly died in the attacks, which occurred in the capital, Baghdad, and other areas of the country today as well as yesterday as Shia pilgrims mark an important religious festival.

Ad Melkert, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Iraq, described the attacks as horrific crimes committed against defenceless civilians who were practicing their faith.

The formation of a broad-based government will be the most effective response in the face of insurgents who are aiming at destabilizing the country, added Mr. Melkert, who is also head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

In February, over 40 people were killed and more than 100 injured in a suicide bombing that targeted Shia pilgrims travelling from Baghdad to Karbala.

Meanwhile, a new UN human rights report covering the latter part of 2009 shows that attacks deliberately targeting religious and ethnic groups continue unabated, including against the Shabak, a Shia minority, and Christians.

The report, prepared by UNAMI and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), notes with deep concern the high rate of indiscriminate and targeted attacks, notably at places of worship, and against ethnic groups that claimed hundreds of lives from 1 July to 31 December.

It also documents ongoing violence and targeted assassinations against government officials, high profile figures and journalists, according to a news release issued by UNAMI.

At least 4,068 civilians were killed and 15,935 injured in Iraq in 2009, according to figures provided by UNAMI and the Government. While the number of civilian deaths decreased slightly in the second half of the year, the number of injured civilians rose dramatically, with 9,747 civilians injured during attacks, compared with 6,188 during the first six months.

The report also draws attention to the human rights situation in prisons and places of detention in Iraq, as well as the fact that over 12,000 prisoners were facing execution, as of 31 December.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that continuing allegations of ill-treatment and torture in detention facilities in addition to poor conditions of detention remain of concern.

I urge the Government of Iraq to investigate all such allegations and bring those responsible to justice. Otherwise, these practices will continue to tarnish Iraqs recovery.

UN News Centre – Middle East

The gathering was chaired by Major-General Alberto Asarta Cuevas, Force Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Participants conferred on all issues relevant to the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizbollah, including the situation along the Blue Line and its ongoing visible marking.

Also discussed was the question of the village of Ghajar, whose northern section Israel continues to occupy, in contravention of the resolution.

In a report issued in February, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon cautioned that the situation in the region remains fragile, while adding that he is pleased by the parties continued commitment to resolution 1701.

The continued respect of the cessation of hostilities by Israel and Lebanon has provided for the most stable period in the relationship between the two countries for decades.

But he warned that the fragility of the situation is exacerbated by ever more strident rhetoric, which raises tensions and should be avoided, as well as being in contravention of the spirit of the resolution.

The resolutions implementation also topped todays talks between UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams and the countrys Defence Minister, Elias Murr, in the capital, Beirut.

The two men discussed recent events in south Lebanon, especially those involving the residents of some of the areas villages and UNIFIL patrols.

They also agreed that the excellent cooperation between UNIFIL and LAF over the past four years has been the backbone of the stability that has prevailed in south Lebanon, Mr. Williams said. This cooperation, we believe, must be maintained and enhanced.

In recent weeks, protests have been directed at blue helmets, and the UN official today reiterated the crucial role played by the world bodys mission in the area, stressing the need for freedom of movement of UNIFIL to support the LAF.

This, in turn, serves the interests of Lebanon and the stability of the wider region, Mr. Williams told reporters after his meeting with the Lebanese Minister.

UN News Centre – Middle East

Earlier this week villagers reportedly staged numerous protests against the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) during a maximum deployment exercise carried out by the mission, which is tasked with monitoring a ceasefire between Israel and Hizbollah.

UNIFIL regularly carries out such exercises to ensure the readiness of its troops on the ground. The UN has noted that particular care is taken to minimize disturbance or inconvenience to the local population during the operation, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are fully informed of the activity, its nature and purpose.

UNIFILs freedom of movement was violated and UN troop-contributing countries are quite concerned, Michael Williams, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, said in a statement following his meeting in Beirut with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

We must insist that the freedom of movement of UNIFIL is fully respected, he said. UNIFILs exercise in the area was carried out as part of its normal operations and with full respect of its mandate, and indeed the LAF assisted UNIFIL in defusing tensions.

Mr. Williams added that he and Mr. Berri agreed on the need to work hard to prevent any recurrence of the problems of the past week and that all parties must be involved in trying to defuse these tensions.

The two men also discussed the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizbollah. It also calls for respect of the so-called Blue Line separating the Israeli and Lebanese sides, the disarming of all militias operating in Lebanon and an end to arms smuggling in the area.

The Special Coordinator noted that UNIFILs presence and deployment in the south and its close work and coordination with the LAF provide the backbone for the implementation of resolution 1701 in a way that serves the interests of Lebanon and the stability of the entire region.

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters on Wednesday that UNIFIL is making every effort to talk to the communities and explain to them the nature and purpose of the activity to clear up any misunderstandings they may have. The enhanced deployment operations concluded on 30 June.

UN News Centre – Middle East

Earlier this week villagers reportedly staged numerous protests against the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) during a maximum deployment exercise carried out by the mission, which is tasked with monitoring a ceasefire between Israel and Hizbollah.

UNIFIL regularly carries out such exercises to ensure the readiness of its troops on the ground. The UN has noted that particular care is taken to minimize disturbance or inconvenience to the local population during the operation, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are fully informed of the activity, its nature and purpose.

UNIFILs freedom of movement was violated and UN troop-contributing countries are quite concerned, Michael Williams, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, said in a statement following his meeting in Beirut with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

We must insist that the freedom of movement of UNIFIL is fully respected, he said. UNIFILs exercise in the area was carried out as part of its normal operations and with full respect of its mandate, and indeed the LAF assisted UNIFIL in defusing tensions.

Mr. Williams added that he and Mr. Berri agreed on the need to work hard to prevent any recurrence of the problems of the past week and that all parties must be involved in trying to defuse these tensions.

The two men also discussed the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizbollah. It also calls for respect of the so-called Blue Line separating the Israeli and Lebanese sides, the disarming of all militias operating in Lebanon and an end to arms smuggling in the area.

The Special Coordinator noted that UNIFILs presence and deployment in the south and its close work and coordination with the LAF provide the backbone for the implementation of resolution 1701 in a way that serves the interests of Lebanon and the stability of the entire region.

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters on Wednesday that UNIFIL is making every effort to talk to the communities and explain to them the nature and purpose of the activity to clear up any misunderstandings they may have. The enhanced deployment operations concluded on 30 June.

UN News Centre – Middle East

A group of about 25 armed and masked men attacked and set fire to the facility on the beach in Nuseirat that was being used to host the Summer Games, run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

No one was hurt in the incident, which follows a similar attack on 23 May when a group of 30 armed and masked men attacked and set fire to an UNRWA Summer Games facility that was under construction on the beach in Gaza City.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has referred to the Summer Games, which is in its fourth year, as a rare opportunity for relief from the deprivations and difficulties of everyday life in Gaza, which has suffered from a three-year-long blockade imposed by Israel for what it called security reasons after Hamas took power there in 2007.

The Secretary-General calls upon the de-facto authorities to combat any incitement against United Nations operations, and ensure the safety of UNRWA and other UN personnel and programmes, serving the most vulnerable in Gaza, his spokesperson said in a statement.

He calls for those responsible for these incidents to be brought to justice, the statement added.

Cowardly and despicable is how John Ging, UNRWAs Director of Operations in Gaza, described todays attack. The overwhelming success of UNRWAs Summer Games has once again obviously frustrated those that are intolerant of childrens happiness, he added.

Mr. Ging said the attack will not deter UNRWA from continuing with the annual event, which is the largest recreation programme for Gazas children and provides, among others, sports, swimming, arts and crafts, and drama.

UNRWA will rebuild the camp immediately and will continue with its Summer Games programme which is so important for the physical and psychological well-being of Gazas children, so many of whom are stressed and traumatized by their circumstances and experiences, he stated.

This is another example of the growing levels of extremism in Gaza and further evidence, if that were needed, of the urgency to change the circumstances on the ground that are generating such extremism, he added.

The Summer Games began on 12 June and will run through 5 August, providing 1,200 summer camps for more than 250,000 refugee children across Gaza.

UN News Centre – Middle East

Settlement construction should stop, as should measures which discriminate against Palestinian residents of the city and the ability of Palestinians to access the city, Mr. Ban said at the start of the United Nations African Meeting on the Question of Palestine, which is focusing on the question of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem remains a permanent status issue and a way should be found for the city to emerge as the capital of both Israel and a future State of Palestine, with arrangements for the holy sites acceptable to all.

He added that settlement activity also continues in the rest of the West Bank, in contravention of international law and Israels obligations under the Roadmap, the internationally approved plan for a two-State solution to the Middle East conflict.

In the address, which was delivered by Bader al-Dafa, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the Secretary-General also noted that the recent deadly crisis involving an aid flotilla intercepted by Israel indicates how untenable the Gaza blockade is, and he urged that humanitarian aid be allowed to reach the area.

The 31 May incident, in which Israel raided a six-ship convoy carrying humanitarian goods and activists as it was travelling through international waters on its way to Gaza, resulted in the deaths of nine civilians and the wounding of at least 30 others.

At todays meeting, held in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, Mr. Ban welcomed Israels recent steps towards a new policy on Gaza and the blockade, but added that full and swift implementation is crucial

The goal must be an end to the blockade so that humanitarian assistance, commercial goods and persons can flow through functioning land crossings.

The UN has repeatedly spoken out against the closure of Gaza and raised concern over the insufficient flow of materials into the area to meet the basic needs of its estimated 1.5 million Palestinian residents and to spur reconstruction.

The Secretary-Generals message also called on Hamas to show political responsibility by enforcing an extended ceasefire, among other moves.

The continued captivity of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit serves no Palestinian interest, he said, again calling for his release.

The two-day Rabat gathering, Mr. Ban said, occurs at a time of tension and uncertainty in the region.

Although the Israeli-Palestinian proximity talks mediated by the United States continue, they are complicated by developments on the ground, the Secretary-General stressed.

It is essential that all parties refrain from provocations and seize the opportunity presented by the talks.

The proximity talks must swiftly lead to direct negotiations on all permanent status issues, he said.

All of us are called upon to lend our support towards the realization of the two-State solution, with Jerusalem as the shared capital, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and international law, supported by the Arab Peace Initiative, Mr. Ban underlined.

Also addressing the start of the Rabat gathering, which is being held under the auspices of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the head of the groups delegation, Zahir Tanin, welcomed the start of indirect talks.

He noted that the issue of Jerusalem is highly sensitive, but stressed that leaving it unresolved would undermine ultimate success in the negotiations to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace or a solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The committees position, Mr. Tanin said, is that there can be no durable peace if East Jerusalem is not made the capital of a future Palestinian State.

A negotiated agreement on the status of Jerusalem should include internationally guaranteed provisions aimed at ensuring the freedom of religion and of conscience of its inhabitants, as well as permanent, free and unhindered access to the holy places by the Palestinian people and peoples of all religions and all nationalities.

UN News Centre – Middle East

Israel is reportedly considering revoking the residency permits of Muhammad Abu-Teir, Ahmad Attoun, Muhammad Totah, and Khaled Abu Arafeh, all current or former members of the Palestinian Legislative Council and long-time residents of East Jerusalem.

The Israeli High Court of Justice is scheduled to consider their case on 6 September.

We are concerned at all measures which may heighten tension in the city and at the potentially broad consequences for Palestinian residents of occupied East Jerusalem, Richard Miron, spokesperson for UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry, said in a statement issued in Jerusalem.

We call on Israel to respect its obligations under international law, he added.

On Tuesday independent UN human rights expert Richard Falk warned that population transfers in or from occupied territory, if carried out, would violate international law, with certain actions potentially amounting to war crimes.

He said it was particularly shocking that Israel appeared ready to forcibly transfer the four Palestinian legislators based on their supposed lack of loyalty to the State of Israel.

Israel, as an occupying Power, is prohibited from transferring civilian persons from East Jerusalem, and is prohibited from forcing Palestinians to swear allegiance or otherwise affirm their loyalty to the State of Israel, said Mr. Falk, who serves as the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights on Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.

Last week Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that planned moves by Israel, such as demolishing existing homes and constructing new settlements in the Silwan area of East Jerusalem, are contrary to international law, and to the wishes of Palestinian residents.

The current moves are unhelpful, coming at a time when the goal must be to build trust to support political negotiations, his spokesperson said in a statement issued on Thursday.

UN News Centre – Middle East

Council members voted unanimously to adopt a resolution extending UNDOF which was established in May 1974 following the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces after the 1973 war through 31 December.

The vote follows a recent report to the Council by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in which he said the situation in the Middle East is tense and likely to remain so, until a comprehensive settlement covering the regions problems can be reached.

Ambassador Claude Heller of Mexico, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, read out a statement to the press on behalf of the 15-member panel in which he said the Council backed Mr. Bans position.

In his report the Secretary-General urged Israel and Syria to resume peace negotiations as soon as possible. An earlier set of indirect talks that were initiated by Turkey were discontinued in 2008.

As of last month UNDOF was comprised of 1,043 troops from six countries and the operation is led by Major General Natalio Ecarma III of the Philippines.

UN News Centre – Middle East

Richard Falk, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights on Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, cited in particular the situation of four Palestinians threatened with the loss of their right of residence, as well as the plan by the Mayor of Jerusalem to demolish 22 buildings housing Palestinians in Silwan as part of a redevelopment of the area.

These actions, if carried out, would violate international law, with certain actions potentially amounting to war crimes under international humanitarian law, warned Mr. Falk, who reports to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council in an unpaid capacity.

He said it was disturbing that Israel is considering revoking the residency permits of the four Palestinians, who are all current or former members of the Palestinian Legislative Council and long-time residents of East Jerusalem. The Israeli High Court of Justice is scheduled to consider their case on 6 September.

What is particularly shocking is that Israel appears ready to forcibly transfer these individuals based on their supposed lack of loyalty to the State of Israel, he stated. Israel, as an occupying Power, is prohibited from transferring civilian persons from East Jerusalem, and is prohibited from forcing Palestinians to swear allegiance or otherwise affirm their loyalty to the State of Israel.

Last week Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced his deep concern at the news that the municipality of Jerusalem has advanced planning for the demolition of existing homes and the construction of further settlements in Silwan, noting that the planned moves are contrary to international law, and to the wishes of Palestinian residents.

The Secretary-General reminds the Israeli Government of its responsibility to ensure provocative steps are not taken which would heighten tensions in the city. The current moves are unhelpful, coming at a time when the goal must be to build trust to support political negotiations, his spokesperson said in a statement issued on Thursday.

Mr. Falk said the situation in Silwan warrants urgent action by the Israeli Government to prevent the occurrence of serious violations of international law, highlighting the fact that East Jerusalem is occupied territory under international law.

International law does not allow Israel to bulldoze Palestinian homes to make space for the mayors project to build a garden, or anything else, he said.

This situation should be seen within the context of Israels persistent, systematic approach to driving Palestinians out of East Jerusalem, including by denying them permission to construct homes, declaring their homes illegal, forcibly removing families, and then destroying their homes all to make way for Israeli settlements.

UN News Centre – Middle East