The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon has complained to the Israel Defense Force over what it considers red tape and over-zealous, time-consuming security checks by IDF soldiers at the Rosh Hanikra border post on the Mediterranean coast.
UNIFIL spokesperson Timor Goksel said high-level talks are going on between the U.N. force and the IDF to try to solve the problem.
Many UNIFIL officers and their families, along with members of the associated U.N. observers force and civilian employees, live in Nahariya and other towns in northern Israel.
They travel regularly to UNIFIL headquarters at Nakoura, Lebanon, just north of the border checkpoint.
About 350 families are said to be considering moving to less comfortable quarters in Lebanon, to avoid the minute examination of their vehicles and property. They say it can take as long as three hours every time they cross the border.
The IDF pointed out that it is responsible for security at the crossing points between Israel and the “non-state” of Lebanon and would continue the meticulous examination of every vehicle.
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