Volker Türk said on Monday that Israel must end its occupation of large areas of southern Lebanon and stop demolishing homes, sharpening pressure on Israel as Lebanese and Israeli officials prepare for another round of direct talks in Rome. Türk spoke as he wrapped up a second visit to Lebanon in just over a year, after meeting displaced Lebanese people and government officials.
Southern Lebanon occupation
Türk told The that the destruction he saw went beyond isolated damage. He described a man who returned to his village and found Israeli troops blocking him from getting near it, adding, "I met yesterday a man who told me that he returned to his village in this zone... south of this so-called yellow line," and "The Israelis were there, they prevented him from going anywhere close to it, and he saw how the village was demolished."
Türk also said, "Demolition of this type raises huge flags about compliance with international humanitarian law," and used the phrase "wholesale destruction" to describe civilian homes. He said some Israeli actions in Lebanon could amount to war crimes.
June 26 framework deal
The talks in Rome are tied to the June 26 framework deal, which laid out a plan for Lebanese military forces to deploy in areas in southern Lebanon, Israeli forces to withdraw, and Hezbollah to be disarmed. Israeli forces still occupy dozens of towns and villages in southern Lebanon, leaving the agreement dependent on steps that have not yet been carried out on the ground.
Türk also met Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Lebanon on Monday. Aoun said Lebanon remains committed to the agreement, but warned that Israel's continued military presence and demolitions may "undermine its effectiveness" and that Lebanon "will not accept ongoing violations of its provisions,".
Hezbollah and direct talks
The push toward direct talks carries its own friction. Hezbollah has rejected direct talks and says it will not disarm, even though the June 26 framework deal includes Hezbollah's disarmament. Türk has also criticized Hezbollah for attacks on northern Israeli towns, keeping pressure on all sides while the postwar arrangement remains unsettled.
Türk said he had contacted Israeli authorities hoping to conduct a similar visit, but received no reply. The next step for Lebanon and Israel is another round of direct talks in Rome, where the practical test will be whether the framework deal can move from paper to deployment, withdrawal, and disarmament without further demolition in southern Lebanon.
