UN soldiers reportedly helped Hizbullah kidnap Israelis

By Reuven Koret   
July 15, 2001
Israel Insider
Original Source: http://www.israelinsider.com/channels/diplomacy/articles/dip_0061.htm

http://www.israelinsider.com/images/transparent.gif \* MERGEFORMATINETAn Indian soldier who served in the UNIFIL brigade on the Israel-Lebanese border reportedly told interviewers in Israel that the soldiers in his brigade could have prevented the kidnapping of three Israeli soldiers last October, Eitan Rabin of Maariv reported in an exclusive report Friday. 
Dozens in the UNIFIL brigade reportedly watched the kidnapping but did nothing. Moreover, at least four Indian soldiers reportedly had been bribed by the Hizbollah to offer active assistance in carrying out the abduction. 
Hizbullah denied the bribery charge and said that the organization would release videotape of the kidnapping itself. Meanwhile, UN officials still refuse to show Israeli officials an uncensored tape of the kidnapping's aftermath, insisting that the faces of Hizbullah men be obscured so as to preserve the organization's neutrality.
According to Maariv, the Indian soldier's testimony reported exactly how the kidnapping was carried out. After exploding an initial charge that left the three Israeli soldiers stunned, Hizbullah terrorists dressed in UN uniforms beckoned and called to them: Come, come, we'll help you.
The soldiers accepted the invitation and approached the disguised Hizbullah men. When they came closer, a charge detonated, wounding the soldiers as well as the Hizbullah commander. 
The commander started to curse his friends. Another two terrorists brought the Hizbullah commander into the getaway vehicle. Then they brutally dragged away the three wounded Israeli soldiers.
By this stage, the Indian soldier reported, according to Maariv, there was a big commotion and dozens of UN soldiers from the Indian brigade came around. He said they all knew that the men wearing their uniforms were really Hizbullah. One of the soldiers reportedly said that they should arrest the Hizbullah men, but they did nothing.
The Indian soldier said that at least four UN soldiers collaborated with the Hizbullah to help them reach the ambush location, and to assist them in locating the IDF soldiers. 
Some of the collaborators later returned to India and reported what happened. Israeli officials went to India to investigate. Senior Indian sources also conducted an investigation and seriously criticized the soldiers' behavior.
The Hizbullah had made intimidating threats against the Indian contingent. But at the same time, they had bribed several soldiers in the Indian contingent with liquor, Lebanese women and money.
A bitter argument later broke about among the Indian contingent, with some claiming that they had betrayed their mandate to keep the peace and maintain neutrality.
I'm very sorry about what happened, because we saw what happened, he reportedly said. They were wearing our uniforms and it was too bad we didn't stop them.
Eli Kamir and Menachem Gentz of Maariv, traveling with Prime Minister Sharon to Italy, reported that a senior source in the entourage confirmed the newspaper's revelations and said that in Israel's hands was testimony of large-scale transactions between the Hizbullah and members of the Indian brigade.
Originally the Israelis thought the money was just a small-scale payoff to keep the UN soldiers quiet. But later they were shocked to discover that the sums exchanged were hundreds of thousands of dollars. The money took care of all the assistance that Hizbullah was given during the kidnapping.
Sharon said: The event that occurred in Lebanon serves as a big red light against all involvement of international forces in our conflict. If there is a lesson to be learned, it is that we should not involve foreign forces in our region.