UN Security Council Resolution 1701 adopted unanimously

The Security Council has just voted 15-0 for the Middle East resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The Lebanese government is likely to discuss the resolution later today (Saturday) and and an adviser to the Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, has cautiously welcomed it. The Israeli government is believed to be going to discuss it on Sunday and the Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, will apparently recommend emdorsement to his Cabinet, despite some reservations about its content, although until that occurs the Israeli military effort is thought likely to continue.

The resolution calls for the deployment of upto 15,000 UN troops, up from the current level of 2,000 , to south Lebanon (probably largely supplied by France) to assist the Lebanese miltary in taking back control of the area, to prevent a power vacuum which would probably otherwise result on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area.

Although Qatar, currently a member of the Security Council, voted for the resolution, its Foreign Minister stated in a speech to the UN shortly after the vote that it still contained imbalances in favour of Israel. it is not clear, from anything I have heard or read so far, what Hezbollah's attitude to this whole 'solution' will be, and it seems to me that without its acquiescence (even in the absence of its full agreement) this plan is not likely to succeed. We must hope that both the Lebanese and Israeli governments give it their full backing as a first step.

The draft text of the resolution may be read here and I reproduce it below:

The text of a UN Security Council draft resolution aimed at ending the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Recalling all its previous resolutions on Lebanon, in particular resolutions 425 (1978), 426 (1978), 520 (1982), 1559 (2004), 1655 (2006) and 1680 (2006), as well as the statements of its President on the situation in Lebanon, in particular the statements of 18 June 2000 (S/PRST/2000/21), of 19 October 2004 (S/PRST/2004/36), of 4 May 2005 (S/PRST/2005/17) of 23 January 2006 (S/PRST/2006/3) and of 30 July 2006 (S/PRST/2006/35), Expressing its utmost concern at the continuing escalation of hostilities in Lebanon and in Israel since Hezbollah's attack on Israel on 12 July 2006, which has already caused hundreds of deaths and injuries on both sides, extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons, Emphasising the need for an end of violence, but at the same time emphasizing the need to address urgently the causes that have given rise to the current crisis, including by the unconditional release of the abducted Israeli soldiers, Mindful of the sensitivity of the issue of prisoners and encouraging the efforts aimed at settling the issue of the Lebanese prisoners detained in Israel, 1. Calls for a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in particular, the immediate cessation by Hezbollah of all attacks and the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations; 2. Reiterates its strong support for full respect for the Blue Line; 3. Also reiterates its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders, as contemplated by the Israeli-Lebanese General Armistice Agreement of 23 March 1949; 4. Calls on the international community to take immediate steps to extend its financial and humanitarian assistance to the Lebanese people, including through facilitating the safe return of displaced persons and, under the authority of the Government of Lebanon, reopening airports and harbours for verifiably and purely civilian purposes, and calls on it also to consider further assistance in the future to contribute to the reconstruction and development of Lebanon; 5. Emphasizes the importance of the extension of the control of the Government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory in accordance with the provisions of resolution 1559 (2004) and resolution 1680 (2006), and of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, for it to exercise its full sovereignty and authority; 6. Calls for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution based on the following principles and elements: strict respect by all parties for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Israel and Lebanon; full respect for the Blue Line by both parties; delineation of the international borders of Lebanon, especially in those areas where the border is disputed or uncertain, including in the Chebaa farms area; security arrangements to prevent the resumption of hostilities, including the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani river of an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Lebanese armed and security forces and of UN mandated international forces deployed in this area; full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords and of resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006) that require the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, so that, pursuant to the Lebanese cabinet decision of July 27, 2006, there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than that of the Lebanese state; deployment of an international force in Lebanon, consistent with paragraph 10 below; establishment of an international embargo on the sale or supply of arms and related material to Lebanon except as authorized by its government; elimination of foreign forces in Lebanon without the consent of its government; provision to the United Nations of remaining maps of land mines in Lebanon in Israel's possession; 7. Invites the Secretary General to support efforts to secure agreements in principle from the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel to the principles and elements for a long-term solution as set forth in paragraph 6 above; 8. Requests the Secretary General to develop, in liaison with key international actors and the concerned parties, proposals to implement the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, and of resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), including disarmament, and for delineation of the international borders of Lebanon, especially in those areas where the border is disputed or uncertain, including by dealing with the Chebaa farms, and to present those proposals to the Security Council within thirty days; 9. Calls on all parties to cooperate during this period with the Security Council and to refrain from any action contrary to paragraph 1 above that might adversely affect the search for a long-term solution, humanitarian access to civilian populations, or the safe return of displaced persons, and requests the Secretary General to keep the Council informed in this regard; 10. Expresses its intention, upon confirmation to the Security Council that the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel have agreed in principle to the principles and elements for a long-term solution as set forth in paragraph 6 above, and subject to their approval, to authorize in a further resolution under Chapter VII of the Charter the deployment of a UN mandated international force to support the Lebanese armed forces and government in providing a secure environment and contribute to the implementation of a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution; 11. Requests UNIFIL, upon cessation of hostilities, to monitor its implementation and to extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the safe return of displaced persons; 12. Calls upon the Government of Lebanon to ensure arms or related materiel are not imported into Lebanon without its consent and requests UNIFIL, conditions permitting, to assist the Government of Lebanon at its request; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council within one week on the implementation of this resolution and to provide any relevant information in light of the Councils intention to adopt, consistent with paragraph 10 above, a further resolution; 14. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

PS/ Please see my later post on Chapter VII of the UN Charter, to which reference is made in paragraph 10. of the Resolution.