UNITED
NATIONS 

Security Council

 

Distr.
GENERAL

8/26152
26 July 1993

ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

 

LETTER DATED 26 JULY 1993 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF
ISRAEL TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE
SECURITY COUNCIL

I would like to bring to your attention the serious escalation of terrorist
attacks by Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations in Lebanon against
Israeli civilians in northern Israel and members of the Israel Defence Forces
(IDF).

Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations, such as the so-called Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Command, have lately intensified
their efforts to kill Israelis and to undermine the peace process. Indeed, on
29 June 1993, in an interview with the Lebanese newspaper Al-Diyar,

Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, said, "We are continuing our
Jihad by placing bombs and ambushing because this is a holy cause for us." He
added, "We remain steadfast in our strategy to erase Israel from the map 
Hezbollah's "strategy" has included the repeated firing of Katyusha rockets
against towns and villages in northern Israel as well as attacks upon IDF units
with rockets, bombs and gunfire.

For many months, Israel exhibited restraint in the face of such attacks by
Hezbollah and the other terrorist organizations. Israel has employed military
action only as a last resort. In view of the recent increase in terrorist
attacks, Israel felt compelled to respond. The IDF has been carrying out
operations against terrorist bases belonging to Hezbollah and other terrorist
organizations in Lebanon. In carrying out these operations, Israel is
exercising its legitimate right of self-defence so as to restore adequate
security along our northern border.

The aim of the terrorist organizations is to derail the peace process.
Israel, for its part, remains fully committed to the peace negotiations. Israel
is, therefore, acting to defend its citizens and to defend the peace process as
well.

I would be grateful if you would have this letter circulated as a document
of the Security Council.

(Signed) Gad YAACOBI
Ambassador

93-41803 (E) 260793 2 6 '7 9 3