Israeli PM Ehud Olmert said countries that don't have diplomatic relations with Israel should not be permitted to contribute troops to an international peacekeeping force for southern Lebanon. That would eliminate Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh - among the only countries to have offered front-line troops for the expanded force. It would only make sense that countries must have relations with both Lebanon and Israel - the two countries the force will be charged with protecting - in order to participate. If you do not recognize the right of one of the parties to exist, how can you be trusted to fulfill the mission?
In hopes of putting the multinational force together as quickly as possible, Olmert spoke with the Italian PM Romano Prodi yesterday to convey his belief that Italy is crucial to the actualization of UNSCR 1701, and that their contribution would be important to peace and stability. Perhaps most importantly, Olmert said that it was important that Italy - not France - lead the international force, as well as send troops to oversee the border crossings between Syria and Lebanon. Prodi said that it was Italy's intention to send a "significant" military force so that they could carry out their mission, and that he intended to raise the matter before the Italian parliament as soon as possible.
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