Irish president condemns Israel's demand for UN peacekeepers to leave Lebanon

The president of Ireland has strongly criticized Israel’s request for UN peacekeepers to vacate their positions in southern Lebanon. 

“It is outrageous that the Israel Defense Forces have threatened this peacekeeping force and sought to have them evacuate the villages they are defending,” President Michael Higgins stated. 

“Indeed, Israel is demanding that the entire Unifil (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon), operating under UN mandates, walk away.”

Ireland contributes 347 soldiers to the 10,000 personnel serving in Unifil, tasked with maintaining peace in southern Lebanon.

Earlier today, Unifil announced that it had rejected Israeli demands to “relocate” some of its positions in anticipation of Israeli ground operations against the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah.

Higgins described the demand as “an insult to the most important global institution.”