Extend Italy's U.N. command: Israel

JERUSALEM, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Israel's request to extend Italy's command of U.N. troops in South Lebanon may have sparked a diplomatic incident with Spain, officials said.

Citing the sensitive situation in Lebanon, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu earlier this month, asked Italy to extend for at least six months the tour of its military commander, Gen. Claudio Graziano who heads up the United Nations Interim Forces in southern Lebanon, Haaretz said Thursday.

Spain was to have been appointed the next commander, the newspaper said.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak was asked to explain Israel's actions during his visit to Madrid earlier this week, the paper said.

Netanyahu and the Israel Army believe changes in the U.N. command in southern Lebanon at this time could jeopardize the stability of the region, the paper said.

Israel's Foreign Ministry, however, opposes Netanyahu's initiative, fearing it may insult the major European countries whose troops are members of UNIFIL forces, the paper said.

UNIFIL was created in 1978 to confirm Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon. Following the Second Lebanon War in 2006, the U.N. troops patrol Israel's border with southern Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah military activities.