Israel and Hezbollah have deal, claims Syria

Syria’s ambassador to the UN has claimed that Israel had traded ‘‘secrets and information’’ with Hezbollah guerrillas.

‘‘Israel and Hezbollah have an April memorandum of understanding,’’ Ambassador Mikhail Wehbe told the Security Council during an open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

Israeli minister-counsellor Oren David denied any such contacts, saying Hezbollah was Israel’s ‘‘staunch enemy’’ and dismissing Wehbe’s claim as ‘‘ridiculous’’ and ‘‘unbelievable.’’

The Syrian ambassador indicated that the alleged memorandum dealt with the disputed Chebaa farms area, at the border of Israel, Lebanon and Syria.

Israel captured Chebaa from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war. While Lebanon and Syria say the area is Lebanese, UN cartographers say it belongs to Syria.

Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and Syria, led the military effort to drive Israel out of southern Lebanon last May after an 18 year occupation.

The guerrilla group has warned repeatedly it will continue attacks against Israeli troops until they vacate Chebaa Farms.

Israel said the territory can only be negotiated with Syria.

‘‘Israel and Hezbollah have traded secrets and information,’’ the Syrian ambassador told the council.

‘‘The Chebaa farms, whether Syrian or Lebanese, must be withdrawn from by Israel. By Israel’s own admission, Chebaa Farms is not Israeli, so why is Israel there? Why does it remain there? Why does it subject its people to daily humiliation?,’’ Wehbe asked.

He mentioned the alleged memorandum of understanding in a right-of-reply at the end of a day-long debate in which the Palestinians and their supporters accused the Security Council of failing to act to protect the Palestinians during the past seven months of violent clashes with Israel.

Last month, the Security Council defeated a second Palestinian attempt to win approval for a UN observer force to help protect Palestinian civilians.

The United States, Israel’s closest ally on the council, was responsible for blocking both resolutions.