Council session on southern Lebanon.

Council session on southern Lebanon 

The Security Council had met from l5 to l8 January after Lebanon requested it consider what it described as "continuing acts of aggression and abusive practices of the Israeli occupying forces in Lebanon."

Algeria, Argentina, Nepal, Senegal, Yugoslavia and Zambia submitted a text (S/19434) which, in addition to deploring Israeli "attacks", would have had the Council ask Israel to "cease all acts of encroachment of land, construction of roads and setting up of fences that violate the border, and any attempts to occupy or change the status of Lebanese territory or to impede the return of the effective authority of the Government of Lebanon in sovereign Lebanese territory".

The body would also have reaffirmed previous calls for strict respect for Lebanon's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized boundaries, and withdrawal of Israeli forces.

The vote on the text was 13 to 1, with the United Kingdom abstaining.

In explaining the veto, Vernon Walters of the United States said his country's support for Lebanon's independence remained strong, but resolutions on south Lebanon "can do no good until this body acknowledges the cyclical nature of the violence we seek to end". Reviewing the situation in southern Lebanon without "an attendant concern for the security of northern Israel will have no consequence".

Sir Crispin Tickell of the United Kingdom said his nation deplored Israel's actions in southern Lebanon, but the omission of any reference to the general background of violence and counter-violence made the draft unbalanced and incomplete.

In presenting his case to the Council, Rachid Fakhoury of Lebanon said Israel's "stepped up inhuman practices and acts of aggression" had claimed increasing numbers of victims among civilians and had caused widespread destruction of cities, villages and farmlands. The Council had a responsibility to end that aggression and "impose security and peace in an extremely explosive area that might erupt at any moment."

Fathi Al-Masri of Syria said Israel's "continuing acts of aggressions" against Lebanese civilians had turned the towns and villages of southern Lebanon into detention camps. The Council should enforce effective measures against Israel, including sanctions.

Zehdi Labib Terzi of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) decried the exercise of "State terrorism" by Israel against Palestinian refugee camps in southern Lebanon and against Lebanese civilians. Abdullah Salah of Jordan, on behalf of the Arab Group, said Israel was attempting to alter Lebanon's international borders and was pursuing a policy of "swallowing up" southern Lebanon.

Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel declared that his nation had no territorial claim against Lebanon, and wanted restoration of Lebanese sovereignty by a strong central Government in Lebanon over all of Lebanon, and "security arrangements until such a Government emerges and is able to take possession, control, and responsibility of that territory". Syria, Iran and the PLO were violating Lebanese sovereignty and using Lebanese territory as a base for terrorist attacks against Israel. Israel was taking ongoing measures for self-defence that were restrained, temporary but necessary.

PHOTO : Ambassadors of Nepal, Yugoslavia and Senegal confer.