UN Envoy: Israel to Leave Shebaa After Peace Deal

Patrick Galey (The Daily Star)

June 30, 2009

Syria will hand back the Shebaa Farms as soon as it signs a peace deal with Israel, according to a senior UN official on Saturday. The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams said that Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem personally indicated to him that Syria considers the Farms to be Lebanese territory during talks this weekend. …

Although Israel withdrew its troops from large parts of southern Lebanon in 2000, it maintained positions in the Shebaa Farms. Syrian and Lebanese officials insist that the regions belonged to Lebanon, with Syria having officially handed it over to Lebanese control in 1951.

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