Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs Pierre Abi Assi revealed that contacts are underway between Lebanon and “friendly countries” that seek to ease tensions with Israel over its construction of a border-wall that Beirut claims encroaches on its territory – an allegation Israel vehemently rejects. In an international effort to alleviate tensions, UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti said that the construction work was on the Israeli-side of the internationally recognized separation line, which is referred to as the ‘Blue Line’, and that troops of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, that are tasked with keeping the peace under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, are on the ground to assure that the situation remains calm.
As part of international efforts to alleviate the situation, Acting Assistant U.S. Secretary of State David Satterfield has assured Lebanon, during a visit to Beirut, that Israel does not seek an escalation between the two countries.