Global General

UN to follow up on Israel withdrawal offer

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-11-19 10:54

UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N.'s special coordinator for Lebanon says he plans to visit Israel next week with the U.N. commander in southern Lebanon to discuss Israel's decision "in principle" to pull troops out of the northern half of a village that straddles the border.

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Michael Williams welcomed the announcement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office that senior government ministers had approved a U.N. proposal to withdraw from northern Ghajar "in principle," but he noted that the decision still needs full Cabinet approval.

Williams said he and Maj.-Gen Alberto Asarta Cueva, who heads the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, will visit Israel early next week, subject to Israel's agreement, to follow up on the announcement.