Hizbullah Aiming to 'Liberate' Shaba Farms in Near Future
Sheikh Nabil Qaouk, told supporters that diplomacy over the areas had failed and the only way to regain control of the land was to use force.

by Hana Levi Julian, Arutz Sheva
October 3, 2008

Map of Lebanon

Hizbullah says that it will "soon liberate" the Shaba Farms in the Mt. Dov area on the northern side of Mt. Hermon and the nearby village of Ghajar, the Lebanese Daily Star reported Friday.

Sheikh Nabil Qaouk, the Shi'ite terror group's leader in southern Lebanon, told supporters in the border village of Abbasieh that diplomacy over the areas had failed and the only way to regain control of the land was to use force, according to the report.

Ghajar, which straddles the Israel-Lebanese border, is often exploited by drug smugglers and terrorists.

Qaouk's speech followed Israel's notification to the United States on Sunday that it is willing to withdraw from the northern part of Ghajar on the Lebanese border.

The Jewish State set the condition, however, that the Lebanese government must first guarantee in writing that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) would be given security and civilian control over the northern part of the village, which is in Lebanese territory.

UNIFIL has not been given authority by the Lebanese government to exercise total control over the security of any area in the country, inasmuch as none of its forces have the right to disarm Hizbullah terrorists.

Approximately two weeks ago Israel gave an official letter to UNIFIL commander General Claudio Graziano, stating that it accepts U.N. security and civilian control over the northern part of the village.

The Planning Branch and the Northern Command of the Israel Defense Forces are working on details of the withdrawal.