United Nations

S/PV.3653

Security Council

Provisional

Fifty-first Year

3653rd Meeting
Monday, 15 April 1996, 6 p.m.
New York

President:

Mr. Somavía . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(Chile)

Members:

Botswana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Egypt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Guinea-Bissau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Honduras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Indonesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Poland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Republic of Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Russian Federation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United States of America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mr. Nkgowe
Mr. Qin Huasun
Mr. Elaraby
Mr. Dejammet
Mr. Eitel
Mr. Queta
Mr. Martínez Blanco
Mr. Wibisono
Mr. Terzi di Sant’Agata
Mr. Wlosowicz
Mr. Park
Mr. Lavrov
Mr. Plumbly
Mrs. Albright

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Agenda
The situation in the Middle East
Letter dated 13 April 1996 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to
the President of the Security Council (S/1996/280)

96-85433 (E)

This record contains the original text of speeches delivered in English and interpretations of speeches
delivered in the other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records of the Security
Council. Corrections should be submitted to original speeches only. They should be incorporated
in a copy of the record and be sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned,
within one week of the date of publication, to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service,
room C-178.

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
The meeting was called to order at 6.15 p.m.

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
The first speaker is the representative of Lebanon,
on whom I now call.

Adoption of the agenda
The agenda was adopted.
The situation in the Middle East
Letter dated 13 April 1996 from the Permanent
Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations
addressed to the President of the Security Council
(S/1996/280)
The President (interpretation from Spanish): I should
like to inform the Council that I have received letters from
the representatives of Afghanistan, Algeria, Colombia,
Cuba, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait,
Lebanon, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Morocco,
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia,
Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, in which they
request to be invited to participate in the discussion of the
item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual
practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to
invite those representatives to participate in the discussion,
without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council’s
provisional rules of procedure.
There being no objection, it is so decided.
At the invitation of the President, Mr. Yaacobi (Israel)
and Mr. Moubarak (Lebanon) took seats at the
Council table; Mr. Farhadi (Afghanistan),
Mr. Lamamra (Algeria), Mr. García (Colombia),
Mr. Rodríguez Parrilla (Cuba), Mr. Takht-Ravanchi
(Islamic Republic of Iran), Mr. Bataineh (Jordan),
Mr. Abulhasan (Kuwait), Mr. Azwai (Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya), Mr. Thanarajasingam (Malaysia),
Mr. Snoussi (Morocco), Mr. Kamal (Pakistan),
Mr. Allagany (Saudi Arabia), Mr. Hallak (Syrian Arab
Republic), Mr. Abdellah (Tunisia), Mr. Tanç (Turkey)
and Mr. Samhan (United Arab Emirates) took the
seats reserved for them at the side of the Council
Chamber.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The
Security Council will now begin its consideration of the
item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in
response to the request contained in a letter dated 13 April
1996 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the
United Nations addressed to the President of the Security
Council (S/1996/280).

2

Mr. Moubarak (Lebanon): Once again, Lebanon is
pleading before you, members of the Security Council, to
take action to stop the Israeli military aggression against
my country, its people, its territorial integrity, its
independence and its sovereignty. Military aggression is
a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter,
international law and pertinent Security Council
resolutions, particularly resolution 425 (1978), and the
Armistice Agreement of 1949 between Lebanon and
Israel.
For five days now, Lebanon has been subjected to
continued Israeli aggression by land, sea and air. Israel is
killing and injuring Lebanese civilians, and at this time
there is an exceedingly large number of displaced persons
from South Lebanon and surrounding areas.
This situation cannot be tolerated. I am here today
to ask you, members of the Council, to take swift action
to stop this Israeli madness.
Contrary to the claims of Israeli officials and those
who are backing them, the current escalation is a result of
persistent Israeli attacks and bombardments deep in
Lebanese territory, killing men, women and children. This
is a violation of the so-called understanding of July 1993
and hence attracts reaction from the Lebanese resistance.
The records of the Security Council are replete with
my constant correspondence reporting to the Council a
long chain of misery inflicted by Israel against Lebanon.
Israeli military activities are escalating at an
alarming rate. Israeli military forces are bombarding, by
air, sea and land, an area extending from the south to the
north of Lebanon, causing the displacement of hundreds
of thousands of civilians. This new cycle of violence must
not be viewed apart from the overall situation in the south
and the western Bekaa. It is not a question of who
launched this or that rocket first. It is the result of the
occupation by Israel, in flagrant violation of Security
Council resolution 425 (1978). Furthermore, this new
cycle of large-scale violence has been triggered on
purpose by the Israelis to serve the electoral ambitions of
the Israeli Government. This is completely insane.
Israel is still engaged in its deadly assault against
Lebanon. The number of casualties is constantly
increasing and the destruction of property is devastating.

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
The outcome of this aggression since it started is as
follows.
On Wednesday, 10 April, the entire southern Lebanese
coast was subjected to an intensive sea blockade. Israeli
artillery heavily shelled most of the villages in the south
and the western Bekaa. The Israeli air force violated
Lebanese airspace by conducting extensive military
bombardments over most of Lebanon’s regions.
On Thursday, 11 April, Israel raided the civilian
sections of the southern part of Beirut, targeting the Al
Sahel hospital and a Syrian army barracks near Beirut
airport. Moreover, it carried out other raids on many
villages in the south: Mlita, Ain Bousouar and Jibaa. The
sea blockade imposed on all Lebanese coasts is being
firmly maintained and artillery shelling on many villages in
the south and the western Bekaa — Tyre, Nabatiye,
Schhour, Zibqeen, Yater, Al Qlayle, Mlita, Dirdghaya,
Mayfadoun, Jibcheet, Khirbit Selem, Shouqeen, Majdal
Selem, Zibdeen and Al Hiniye — continues unabated.
Furthermore, Israeli rockets hit a civilian car in the town of
Jiye, killing all the occupants. The casualty results of that
day were 5 citizens dead, among them a soldier in the
Lebanese army, and 25 civilians injured.
On Friday, 12 April, Israeli artillery shelled many
villages in the south and the western Bekaa: Nabatiye,
Mansouri, Hiniye, Yater, Hariss, Baraachit, Chakra,
Mayfadoun, Souyaneh, Kfar Remen, Habboush, Arabsalim,
Kfar Melki, Touleen, Sohmor, Yohmor, Zillaya, Libbaya,
Machghara, Tibneen, Jmeijmeh, Hatcheet, Kfarsseer and
Kfar Tebneet. Furthermore, Israeli helicopters raided the
southern and the western Bekaa, bombarding Shouqeen,
Nabatiye, Maalliye, Tyre and Sarba, and Israeli forces
shelled the southern part of Beirut: Haret Hreik, Beer
Hassan, Tariq al Matar and Hay al Solom.
The sea blockade is still in effect, and the Israelis
warned the Lebanese to evacuate their homes in 40
southern towns and villages, causing a massive migration
towards Saida, Tyre and Beirut. These villages are Klayleh,
Khirbet Selem, Jibcheet, Nabatiye, Yater, Mansouri,
Hinniye, Bazoulliya, Zibqeen, Jebal al Boutoum, Majdal
Zoun, Siddiqeen, Aiteet, Majdal Selem, Chakra, Kabrikha,
Touleen, Al Ghandouriye, Al Sultaniye, Beer al Salassel,
Jmeijmeh, Safad al Bateekh, Zaoutar al Gharbiye, Zaoutar
al Sharqiye, Yohmor, Tibneen, Shouqeen, Kaaqayiat al
Jiser, Kfar Reman, Arabsaleem, Aita al Jebel, Kafra,
Mayfadoun, Adcheet and Kfarsseer. The casualty results of
that day were 6 civilians dead, 22 injured and 50,000 newly
displaced from the south.

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
On Saturday, 13 April, massive Israeli
bombardments continued at the rate of 40 mortar shells
per minute falling on many villages in the south and the
western Bekaa: Hinniye, Al Klayleh, Schaytiyeh, Al
Kneisseh, Qana, Siddiqeen, Baraachit, Chakra, Al
Souyaneh, Nabatiye, Tyre, Majdal Selem, Zibqeen,
Harrouf, Jibcheet, Al Mansouri, Yater, Al Doueir, Al
Kfour, Toumaat Nihaa, Al Bazouriye, Jbaa, Ain Qana,
Habouch, Kfar Remman, Zibdeen, Maydoun, Ain al Tineh
and Beer al Salassel.
Israeli helicopters continued their raids on the south
and the Bekaa, attacking Jebal al Boutoum, Al Klayleh,
Majdal Selem, Tibneen, Al Souyaneh, Al Remadiyah,
Siddiqeen, Kfra, Baraachit, Kherbet Selem, Al Bazouriya,
Hariss, Chakra and Mahrounah. Israeli shelling hit a
Lebanese ambulance in Al Mansouri, in the area of Tyre,
killing four children, and hit a house in the town of
Souhmor in the western Bekaa, killing a whole family of
five. More Israeli warnings have been issued to vacate the
area of Nabatiye and the western Bekaa. The casualty
results of that day were 12 civilians dead and 30 injured,
and the number of displaced from the south reached
200,000 more Lebanese citizens.
On Sunday, 14 April, Israel continued to bombard
all the Lebanese regions from air, land and sea. Israeli
warplanes shelled the southern part of Beirut: Beer-Abd,
Haret Hreik and Ghobeyri. Furthermore, Israeli warplanes
shelled the electrical power station in Jamhour, in East
Beirut. More warnings were issued by Israel to evacuate
Tyre and all surrounding villages. The following towns
were bombarded: Tyre, Hinniye, Al Azziye, Al Klayleh,
Siddiqeen and Bourg Al Shemaleh. Israel also raided the
Palestinian refugee camp of Al Baddawi in northern
Lebanon and Israeli forces prevented the flow of southbound traffic on the Beirut-Sidon line, citing any violation
as a provocation for direct shelling. The resulting
casualties were 5 dead and 30 injured, and the number of
displaced persons reached more than 600,000.
Today, Monday, 15 April, Israeli reinforcements
entered Lebanon. A systematic bombardment of Tyre and
its internationally protected archaeological sites is taking
place at a rate of 100 shells per minute. Bombardments
are continuing on all the towns and villages cited above.
Beirut’s suburbs are the target of the Israeli air force and
another power station was hit at Bsaleem village, northeast of Beirut. Israeli threats and intimidations are
intensifying. The sea blockade is being strongly
maintained.

3

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
Before coming to the Security Council, I received two
further pieces of information. First, the Israeli air force
bombarded the largest electrical plant in Lebanon, at Jiye.
Secondly, 484 Israeli air raids took place today alone. The
total number of persons displaced to date is 800,000.
The Israeli military actions against Lebanon are acts
of aggression. This aggression constitutes a grave threat to
international peace and security and a breach of the United
Nations Charter, international law and Security Council
resolutions.
In 1978 the Security Council deployed thousands of
United Nations soldiers, in accordance with resolution 425
(1978), for the purpose of confirming the withdrawal of
Israeli forces, restoring peace and security and
re-establishing the effective authority of the Lebanese
Government in the area. Since then, the Council has
remained seized of this question, and to this day Israel
refuses to comply with that resolution.
It has been a pattern that any resistance to Israeli
aggression is immediately labelled an act of terrorism. Let
me reiterate once again Lebanon’s constant position on this
point: while Lebanon stresses its firm condemnation of all
forms of terrorism, it firmly supports the legitimate right of
peoples to resist foreign occupation. What we have in south
Lebanon is foreign occupation, and the Lebanese are within
their legitimate rights in defending themselves against
occupation, human rights abuses and displacement.
This principle was reaffirmed time and again in the
solemn declarations of Heads of State and Government at
the Commemorative Meeting on the occasion of the fiftieth
anniversary of our Organization. What is happening in
Lebanon today is resistance against foreign occupation.
Israeli occupation of Lebanon is terrorism. Since 1978
Israel has refused to comply with resolution 425 (1978),
which
“Calls for strict respect for the territorial
integrity, sovereignty and political independence of
Lebanon within its internationally recognized
boundaries” (resolution 425 (1978), para. 1)
and
“Calls upon Israel immediately to cease its
military action against Lebanese territorial integrity
and withdraw forthwith its forces from all Lebanese
territory” (ibid., para. 2)

4

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
Instead of complying with resolution 425 (1978),
Israel has carved out the so-called security zone in south
Lebanon and the Western Bekaa, perpetuating its
occupation of Lebanon.
At this stage, I would like to sum up some of
Israel’s erroneous expectations and conclusions in
launching the new large-scale bombardments against
Lebanon. First, if Israel thinks that violence is the
solution it should know that violence will serve for
nothing; it will only add misery, suffering and destruction.
The whole history of Israel since 1948 has been full of
this distorted logic.
Secondly, if Israel thinks that the perpetuation of the
so-called security zone is another solution, here Israel
should know once again that it is wrong. The so-called
security zone is a complete failure. It has not achieved
security for Israel.
Thirdly, if Israel thinks that it can keep the peace
process intact by combining violence and diplomacy,
again Israel should know that it is wrong. Israel can see
clearly the deplorable results of its military actions on the
peace process since 1991.
Fourthly, if the purpose of the exercise is to force
Lebanon to accept submission, this is again a futile hope.
Lebanon will have no peace with Israel as long as Israel
does not withdraw from south Lebanon, in
implementation of resolution 425 (1978), and from the
Golan Heights up to the 4 June 1967 line, in
implementation of resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
It is high time Israel forgot once and for all its hopeless
dreams in this regard. History has fully proved to Israel
on many occasions the complete failure of this kind of
futile thinking.
Fifthly, if the purpose of the exercise is to confuse
terrorism with resistance to foreign occupation, we say to
Israel, “Don’t waste your time”. It is obvious to all that
Lebanon’s resistance is a sacred right. It is up to Israel to
withdraw and to end the occupation, which is the cause
of the resistance.
Children are being slaughtered in ambulances, and
elderly people, men and women in Lebanon are falling
every minute for the sole purpose of helping the electoral
ambitions of the Israeli Government. This is pure
madness.

 Security Council
Fifty-first year

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996

What did the Israeli authorities achieve by
launching a new, large-scale aggression against my
country? Just new statistics of death and misery to add to
their well-known record of killings. Since the peace process
started in 1991 in Madrid, Israel has been launching raids
of death and destruction against Lebanon. Why? Simply
because it refuses to abide by international law and
implement Security Council resolutions.

The process has been very badly damaged by this second
blitz against Lebanon in three years.

My appeal to the Security Council in this fiftieth
anniversary year of the United Nations is to act swiftly in
putting an end to Israeli terror, to condemn this aggression
and to force Israel to withdraw to the internationally
recognized boundaries of Lebanon, in accordance with
resolution 425 (1978).

Unfortunately, Israel thinks that it is above
international law, and, ironically, it is a person who
received a Nobel Prize who is perpetrating this aggression
against my country. It is the main responsibility of the
Council immediately to stop the Israeli aggression. How
long should Lebanon suffer to make Israel understand that
violence does not solve anything?

The Israeli aggression in Lebanon is seriously
damaging the peace process. Everybody should realize that
the Israeli aggression against Lebanon today is a process of
destruction. Israel bears complete responsibility for the
crimes committed in my country.
My delegation made it clear on many occasions in the
peace talks in Madrid and Washington that Israel has to
comply by implementing fully resolution 425 (1978).
Furthermore, we asked for the release of all detainees from
Israeli jails and from detention camps under Israeli control
in south Lebanon.
What is happening in Lebanon today is the result of a
joint venture of Israeli terrorism and Israeli elections. Again
and again my country is the first arena of Israeli terror.
We have always said that security will never support
peace, but that peace will support security. When we
participated in the Madrid Peace Conference in 1991 we
expected the implementation of resolutions 425 (1978),
242 (1967) and 338 (1973). After five long years none of
those resolutions has been implemented. Israel wants peace
and wants also to keep the land, water, Jerusalem, the
settlements, and it refuses to solve the Palestinian refugee
issue in accordance with General Assembly resolution
194 (III).
My delegation said during the peace talks that Israel
should not fool itself. Peace will prevail only with the
implementation of instruments of international legality or
peace will not prevail at all. It will be a reality when the
rights of all parties are respected. It will succeed only if
Israel abides by the Madrid equation of land for peace.
Peace will be lasting only if it is just and comprehensive.
The omens are not too promising, and time is running out.

Every violent means has been used by Israel against
Lebanon since 1968 when the Israeli air force destroyed
the Lebanese civil fleet at Beirut International Airport.
My country, which has been invaded twice, in 1978 and
in 1982, has since been subjected to daily Israeli terror.

Israel can kill human beings, but it will never kill
our rights. If Israel wants to pursue a distorted, violent
logic it can do it. But it will not achieve anything. Israel
will fail as usual. It should refer to the history of recent
decades, which demonstrates that aggression against
Lebanon ends in total failure. Israelis should not play
politics in Lebanon because it has never been a good
omen for their country or their politicians.
At this stage I would like to quote from the prophet
Habakkuk in the Old Testament, who says:
“For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee” (The
Holy Bible, Habakkuk 2:17)
The Israelis should let my people live by
withdrawing from Lebanon. They will have to implement
resolution 425 (1978). There is only one way for Israel:
southward. International law has to be implemented.
Israel’s logic of terror is distorted. Its military might is its
weakness, its stubbornness is blindness and its pretentions
are pure imagination and dream. The peoples of the
region will never accept Israeli expansionism. They
should know that our right will never die. They have tried
many times to impose their military might on us but have
always failed; and they will fail again and again. Violence
does not achieve anything.
In conclusion, I would like to present my
delegation’s request to the Security Council. We ask the
Council: first, to order Israel to stop immediately its
aggression against Lebanon and to withdraw all its
reinforcements; secondly, to condemn the Israeli
aggression against Lebanon, its civilians, its economy, its
infrastructure and its archaeological sites, in particular

5

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
those internationally protected; thirdly, to force Israel to
implement resolution 425 (1978); fourthly, to provide, in
cooperation with the Secretary-General, a massive
programme of assistance to Lebanon and its people to
overcome the suffering and casualties resulting from the
Israeli aggression; and fifthly, to remain seized of the
matter so long as the Israelis do not abide by the order of
the Council to halt their aggression, with a view to
convening further meetings to take appropriate action.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The next
speaker is the representative of Israel, on whom I call.
Mr. Yaakobi (Israel): While most of the leaders of
the Middle East were meeting last month at the Summit of
Peacemakers at Sharm El Sheikh to pledge their support for
combatting terrorism, Hezbollah terrorists were carrying out
attacks on Israelis.
The representative of Lebanon began his comments
this evening by counting from 10 April. But since 1
February, eight Israelis have been killed and 29 more have
been wounded by Hezbollah Islamic fundamentalist
terrorists. Last week, 36 more Israeli civilians were injured
in several waves of Katyusha rocket attacks fired by the
Hezbollah into northern Israel. Since then more than 100
Katyusha rocket attacks have been fired by the Hezbollah,
hitting the city of Qiryat Shemona and 20 other towns and
villages in the northern part of Israel. Tens of thousands are
living in shelters or have left the northern part of the State
of Israel.
Several speakers have already described Israel’s
actions as if there were no murderous Hezbollah
provocations against Israel and Israeli citizens. Such a
description is bogus and deceitful. The truth is that, after a
long period of restraint and the exhaustion of all political
and diplomatic means, the Israel Defence Force is hitting
back at Hezbollah strongholds with air, sea, and artillery
strikes.
Israel’s primary obligation is to protect the security of
all of its citizens. We will not allow our civilian population
centres to be held hostage by Hezbollah. The Lebanese
Government does not have the ability — or the will — to
control Hezbollah activities. Therefore, Israel must defend
the security of its north by all necessary measures.
Israel has no territorial claim on Lebanon, and has no
intention of entering into battles with either the Syrian or
the Lebanese armies. But we have the right and the
obligation to defend our people.

6

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
The Lebanese Government was told time and again:
control the Hezbollah. If you are, as you claim, the
sovereign Government of Lebanon, then this is your
obligation. It is interesting that the Lebanese Government
disarmed all the militias which had operated within its
territory, but never Hezbollah.
It was very strange to hear from the Prime Minister
of Lebanon, just last night, “It is not within our ability to
do this”. Please decide: either his is the sovereign
Government, or it is not within its ability.
The Syrian Government was told time and again,
“You control large portions of territory in Lebanon. Use
your influence to stop the terrorists”. Israel waited for the
Governments to respond and allowed ample time for
diplomatic efforts, but to no avail. Hezbollah has
continued to carry out attacks against Israel with
impunity. Now, unfortunately, the time has come to take
action ourselves.
Who among you, members of the Council, would
agree to the existence of an armed militia operating from
within your territory, beyond the scope of your
Government’s authority, carrying out attacks against other
States? Who among you would allow your citizens to be
attacked and killed by terrorists? Who among you would
choose not to exercise the right of self-defence?
Today, two trends are emerging in the Middle East:
one that seeks a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and
another, inspired and supported by Iran, that is trying to
kill the prospects for peace. While peacemakers meet and
sign treaties and create a new reality, Hezbollah, Hamas,
the Islamic Jihad and their Iranian master seek to pull us
back to the old Middle East, where violence and
bloodshed were the order of the day.
Make no mistake. The stated goal of Hezbollah is
not the removal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon,
but the destruction of Israel. Last month, Hezbollah ViceChairman Naeem Kassem stated,
“We oppose, and will continue to oppose, the
Zionist entity. Israel has no reason to exist, and will
not exist”.
Hezbollah annually receives $70 million in financial
aid from Iran. Hezbollah terrorists are trained in Iranian
military installations and the so-called Iranian
Revolutionary Guards are very active in Lebanon, day

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
after day. I hope that the members of the Security Council
will not ignore this outrageous situation.
Allow me to quote from the decisions reached at this
week’s cabinet meeting, as articulated by Israel’s Prime
Minister, Shimon Peres.
“First, Hezbollah has broken all previous
understandings achieved in the wake of Operation
Accountability in 1993, and has deliberately created
this escalation. The United States, which brokered the
understandings between us, has established that the
Hezbollah has not been honoring its commitments.
“Secondly, Israel will not permit Hezbollah to
conceal itself among the civilian population. We will
not permit the launching of Katyusha rockets from
within Lebanese villages into northern Israel.
“Thirdly, Hezbollah terrorists and facilities in
Lebanon, including those in Beirut, will not enjoy
immunity.
“Fourthly, if civilian facilities in Israel are hit,
there will be no immunity from strikes on
corresponding facilities in Lebanon.
“Fifthly, if the Hezbollah ceases its attacks on a
permanent basis, Israel will cease too.” I will say it
again: “If the Hezbollah ceases its attacks on a
permanent basis, Israel will cease too.
“Sixthly, the Government of Israel will not
accept the freedom that the Lebanese Government
grants to terrorist groups to operate from its territory
without interference.”
I should like to reiterate to the members of the
Security Council: please understand that Israel has no
interest in or intention of escalating this into a war, but we
are forced to act in order to defend our people. As a
sovereign and democratic State, we are committed to
achieving peace and security. Our security must be ensured
in order to enhance the peace process. Operations are being
conducted solely against Hezbollah terrorist targets. But
Hezbollah positions are situated throughout Lebanon, and
are usually located in the midst of civilian population
centres.
Unfortunately, innocent civilians, on both sides of the
border, are suffering as a result of this confrontation. For
this we are sorry. But this escalation was initiated by the

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
murderous acts of Hezbollah, without any intervention by
the so-called sovereign Government of the State of
Lebanon. We hope that this unnecessary suffering will
soon be over permanently — on a permanent basis. This
must be based on the understanding that all parties are
committed to maintaining peace and security for all
people in the area. This is our intention. This is our hope.
We call upon Council members to understand and
support this policy, this expectation, this hope.
Mr. Dejammet (France) (interpretation from
French): This meeting of the Security Council is a
necessary one. It could have been held earlier, as
Lebanon, with the support of France, had proposed.
Members of the Council cannot remain silent in the face
of the deterioration of the situation, which affects the
security of Lebanon and of Israel, threatens the national
cohesion of Lebanon and seriously jeopardizes the peace
process.
France reaffirms the right of all States in the region,
including Lebanon and Israel, to live in security. It
understands Israel’s desire to keep its people safe from
acts of violence. However, France deeply regrets that the
ongoing military actions of the last few days have already
led to the death of several dozen Lebanese civilians and
forced hundreds of thousands of others to flee their
homes. This mass exodus endangers the national
reconstruction efforts to which Lebanon, after so many
years of tragedy and division, and with such courage and
determination, has devoted all its energy.
France is convinced that the present crisis cannot be
resolved by military means. It is only the implementation
of resolution 425 (1978), which was adopted by the
Security Council, that can, over the long term, ensure
respect for the security of the States of the region by reestablishing Lebanon’s complete sovereignty over its
territory and thereby enabling the Lebanese Government
to participate fully in the maintenance of peace.
But what must be done right now is to halt the chain
reaction of acts of violence and reprisals, which strike
primarily the civilian populations in Israel and in
Lebanon, and which have already taken many lives.
France calls on all parties concerned to demonstrate
responsibility and restraint, and to order a cease-fire as
soon as possible. It is in this spirit that at the request of
the President of the Republic, the French Minister for
Foreign Affairs is today travelling to the region.

7

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
Our Council must closely monitor a crisis which
threatens security in the Middle East. It must therefore
remain seized of this matter. The scale of the exodus of
people forced to flee creates immediate problems of
assistance and aid, which the United Nations should
endeavour to resolve.
It is important, under these grave circumstances, that
we each reaffirm our confidence in Lebanon’s future, our
resolve to help that country and our determination that the
security of all States of the region shall be assured by
peaceful means. It is the whole peace process that must be
saved.
Mr. Wibisono (Indonesia): My delegation learned
with dismay of the disturbing developments in Lebanon
over the weekend. We consider the recent attacks on
Lebanon by Israel as a clear violation of the principles of
the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political
independence of Lebanon. It is in this light that my
delegation fully endorsed the request by the Permanent
Representative of Lebanon and by the Arab League for the
convening of this urgent meeting of the Security Council,
in response to the rapidly worsening situation. My
delegation is hopeful that our consideration of the situation
in Lebanon today will lead to the elimination of the
obstacles faced in the peace process.
The land incursion, sea blockade and air attack by
Israel demonstrate once again its utter contempt for the
sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence
of Lebanon. By its action, Israel has violated not only the
most basic principles governing relations between States, as
enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, which we
all espouse, but also international law and the relevant
Security Council resolutions, particularly resolution 425
(1978). We find intolerable this Israeli military action,
which has inflicted casualties among the civilian population,
particularly women and children, and has caused destruction
of the infrastructure and archaeological sites which are
under the protection of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The
international community, too, must unreservedly condemn
this action.
Clearly, more than principles is involved. Civilians are
being killed and maimed. An exodus of hundreds of
thousands of Lebanese, including women and children, has
been reported. We have condemned such policies when
they have occurred elsewhere, most recently in the Balkans
and in Africa. Lebanon should therefore be no exception.
The concerns expressed during the Council’s earlier

8

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
deliberation on the fate of innocent civilians languishing
under the Israeli siege and strangulation of Palestinian
territory similarly applies with regard to the situation in
Lebanon. The ordinary Lebanese, whose concern is
merely to escape the decades of conflict and violence
which have ravaged their land, must not be punished
collectively for the actions of those over whom they have
little or no control.
In spite of repeated Israeli declarations that the
civilian population is not the intended target, the facts
show that it is precisely they who are the greatest victims.
The massive dislocation of the population threatens the
stability not only of Lebanon — which is in the process
of rebuilding and reconstructing the country after decades
of civil war and devastation — but also of the Middle
East region. It is therefore imperative that emergency
relief operations be put in place in order to alleviate the
sufferings of the civilian population.
Over the past few years the international community
has witnessed significant progress in the Middle East
peace process, particularly in the Palestinian-Israeli track
of negotiations. Indonesia has on many occasions
expressed its principled position on the need for similar
progress in the Syrian-Israeli and Lebanese-Israeli tracks,
leading to a comprehensive and just settlement in the
Middle East, based on Security Council resolutions 242
(1967), 338 (1973) and 425 (1978). This most recent
Israeli military action against Lebanon, like those before
it, cannot but be in total contradiction of the aims and
objectives of the peace process. Moreover, we seriously
doubt whether such action will in fact have its intended
effect and bring about a solution to the problem. It is
imperative, therefore, that the military action to be put to
an immediate end.
At this most critical juncture in the peace process, all
the parties concerned must place the interest of peace in
the region above any other more transient and narrow
interests. Without such a vision, the vicious cycle of
violence and conflict in the Middle East, would be
renewed. An abrupt escalation of aggressive actions and
the prospect of more strife and turmoil in an already
volatile region cannot but lead to a crisis of far greater
proportions, posing dangerous consequences to the Middle
East peace process as a whole. My delegation therefore
calls upon Israel to cease immediately its military action
against Lebanon and to withdraw all reinforcements, as its
acts constitute a clear violation of the principles of the
United Nations Charter, international law and relevant
Security Council resolutions.

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
Finally, bearing in mind the potential for the escalation
of recent events into a crisis, my delegation shares the view
that the Council should remain seized of this matter so long
as the Israeli military action has not been halted. It is our
earnest hope that our meeting today will provide the
necessary impetus towards this end.
Mr. Eitel (Germany): I want to thank you,
Mr. President, for having called this meeting at the request
of our Lebanese colleague. Germany supports what will be
said by Italy on behalf of the European Union. Like all
other members of the European Union, we are also
concerned about the security of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, the United Nations Interim Force
in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
For the second time in one day the Security Council
is meeting to discuss the situation in an area which is part
of the Middle East. In both cases, this Council is dealing
with tensions heightened by brutal acts of violence, directed
against the peace process, which represents the only chance
of bringing peace to this war-torn region.
We would like to express our sympathy for Israel
when trying to protect its civilian population. We strongly
welcome the fact that Israel, in spite of constant terrorist
acts directed against it, remains committed to the peace
process. At the same time, it is obvious that, like Israel,
Lebanon is also entitled to territorial integrity, sovereignty
and political independence within its internationally
recognized borders. This is clearly spelled out in Security
Council resolution 425 (1978).
While self-defence is clearly legitimate, measures of
self-defence can become illegal if they do not abide by the
basic rule of law prescribing proportionality. This legal rule
has been universally recognized at least since the Second
World War. Even then it was nothing new. We find this
already in the third book of Moses, where it is said:
“Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (Leviticus
24:20). The Talmud, that admirable compendium of
wisdom, in its tractate “Bawa Kamma”, which means “First
Door”, explains that rule as meaning an eye for an eye, not
a life and an eye for an eye.
Measures of self-defence must not be directed against
innocent civilians. That is laid down in article 33 of the
Fourth Geneva Convention, to which both Israel and
Lebanon are parties. Any measure of self-defence must be
proportionate not only in size but also in direction. Whereas
all States, especially those of the region, are responsible for
complying with Security Council resolution 425 (1978), the

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
Lebanese Government is responsible for doing all it can
to prevent its territory from being used for attacks against
persons protected by the four Geneva Conventions.
We appeal to all parties concerned to break the
vicious circle of violence along the Lebanese-Israeli
border. Military de-escalation is the key to preventing a
spiral of armed hostilities from developing. Any
mediation effort aimed at that goal finds our full
support — in particular, the one undertaken right now by
the French Foreign Minister. We sincerely hope that
current tensions will eventually give way to an allinclusive peace process, thus bringing peace, stability and
security to a region and its population, which has for
much too long endured the bitter experience of
confrontation and war.
The most urgent step now is an end to the fighting.
We appeal to all parties involved to refrain from further
use of arms. The civilian population must be protected.
Germany will continue to help with humanitarian
assistance.
Mr. Qin Huasun (China) (interpretation from
Chinese): In recent days Israel has launched large-scale
military strikes against parts of southern Lebanon, leaving
dozens of civilians dead and massive property damage in
the wake of shellings. As a result, large numbers of
civilians have been displaced or reduced to refugee status,
the conflict in southern Lebanon has escalated, and
tension has once again mounted.
The Chinese Government and people are deeply
concerned about this turn of events. We call on the Israeli
side immediately to cease all military actions. We urge all
sides to exercise restraint, to settle their disputes through
dialogue and consultation and to eschew force or the
threat of force so as to safeguard peace and stability in
the region.
We believe that Lebanon’s sovereignty,
independence and territorial integrity within
internationally recognized boundaries should be fully
respected and that the relevant resolutions of the Security
Council, including resolution 425 (1978) should be
implemented.
The escalation of the conflict in southern Lebanon
has dealt another setback to the peace process in the
Middle East. The Chinese delegation is deeply alarmed by
this development. The realization of peace in the Middle
East is a shared aspiration of all peoples of the region.

9

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
Progress in Middle East peace has been hard won.
Undermining it is easier than fostering it; all sides are wise
to cherish it.
At this very delicate and crucial moment, we hope that
all sides will exercise restraint. Most importantly, they need
to keep their calm and their reason and refrain from any
action that might aggravate the conflict or harm the Middle
East process.
The international community should steer the situation
in a manner that nurtures the momentum of the peace
process in the Middle East. This is the only guarantee that
the Middle East question will find a comprehensive, just
and durable solution at an early date.
China pursues no gains for itself in the Middle East.
We have always supported the peace process there and
have held that a political solution of the Middle East
question should be sought on the basis of relevant United
Nations resolutions. We hope that the peoples of the Middle
East will return at an early date to a happy life
characterized by peace, stability and good-neighbourly
relations.
We hope that any action taken by the international
community will be conducive to the realization of this goal.
Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (interpretation from
Russian): It is with grave concern that we in Russia are
monitoring reports from Lebanon about the escalation of
military actions by Israel. The barrage of bombardments
along the Lebanese coast and in Lebanese villages and
towns, including parts of Beirut,as well as in the Bekaa
Valley, and other large-scale military operations have
wrought destruction and have taken many victims among
the civilian population. Refugees are now fleeing.
The Israeli command confirms that attacks are being
carried out on the bases of the militarized organization
Hezbollah as revenge for strikes against northern Israel.
Russia consistently and strongly condemns anti-Israeli
terrorist raids; it just as consistently rejects the terrorist
methods of certain extremist groups, which will undermine
efforts to make progress in the peace process. However,
like other members of the Security Council, we ask
ourselves the logical question: to what extent are strikes by
the Israeli army in proportion to the actions of extremists?
We believe that Israel’s military operations are an
inappropriate reaction to these actions.

10

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
We find it necessary to emphasize once again the
inadmissibility of the infringement of the territorial
integrity and the violation of the sovereignty of Lebanon,
which threatens the very statehood of that country. Russia
expresses the gravest concern over the fact that this
hotbed of tension in southern Lebanon may have a longterm negative impact on the Middle East peace process as
a whole.
The critical situation that has developed demands
urgent measures. First of all, it is necessary to halt
immediately the military operations by Israel in Lebanon
and the armed acts initiated from Lebanese territory
against Israel. All parties involved in the violent fighting
on the Lebanese-Israeli border should show restraint and
avoid further escalation of hostilities and violence.
The humanitarian consequences of the present
escalation of violence in Lebanon are also of growing
concern.
The mass media report that among the civilian
population the number of victims is increasing and that
women and children are dying.
Disturbing reports have reached the Security Council
that many civilians in southern Lebanon who were trying
to flee their homes were not able to do so because of the
intensity of the firing. There is thus a new wave of people
moving away from southern Lebanon, which may be a
prelude to an emergency humanitarian situation.
It is absolutely inadmissible that there should be
firing in the area where the United Nations Interim Force
in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is deployed.
The Russian Federation has always called, and calls
now, on all parties involved to show moderation. We
believe that breaking the vicious cycle of confrontation
can be done only through political methods.
As a sponsor of the peace process, Russia strongly
insists that Israel and Lebanon should proceed
immediately to a peaceful settlement on the basis of
Security Council resolution 425 (1978), which provides
for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern
Lebanon and would ensure the security of both countries.
Mr. Park (Republic of Korea): The graphic scene of
the destruction of the white ambulance, which reportedly
killed two women and four children the other day in
southern Lebanon, is a shattering reminder of a tragedy

 Security Council
Fifty-first year

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996

which must be brought to an end at once. My delegation is
of the view that the current situation in Lebanon and along
the Israel-Lebanon border deserves serious consideration by
all the members in this Chamber, particularly given its
possible impact upon the overall Middle East peace process.

keep the peace process alive. The continuation of the
present hostilities will merely provide the extremists with
further pretexts to hamper the peace process and dim the
prospect for achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace in the region.

The fact that the Council must meet twice in a single
day on the question of the Middle East is a distressful
reflection of the grave situation which exists at multiple
levels in that region. It is, however, all the more reason for
the members of this Council to deliberate cautiously and
patiently on this issue, as peace in the Middle East cannot
be complete without reconciliation between Israel and
Lebanon, as well as between Israel and the Palestine
Liberation Organization and between Israel and Syria. The
Middle East peace process can be rounded out only by
making progress on each track, in keeping with the
approach envisioned at the Madrid Peace Conference.

It is in this context that my delegation joins the
appeals of the international community to the parties
concerned to cease the fighting immediately and to enter
into negotiations for a peaceful settlement on the basis of
the Council resolution 425 (1978).

In this regard, we would like to join the previous
speakers in expressing deep concern about the recent
escalation of the hostilities and the sharp deterioration of
the situation in Lebanon and along the Israel-Lebanon
border. My delegation reaffirms its support for the
territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of
Lebanon within its internationally recognized boundaries, as
reiterated by the Council on various occasions.
We are particularly disturbed by the growing number
of civilian casualties which have resulted from the targeting
of cities and villages by the two sides. It is alarming that
the 1993 understanding between the parties to restrict
fighting to military targets in the 19-mile buffer zone seems
to have been scrapped. We call upon both parties
immediately to cease targeting civilian populated areas and
to respect fully the non-combatant status of civilians.
My delegation is equally concerned at the growing
number of refugees who are fleeing their homes, and the
worsening humanitarian situation in the area of conflict.
From a historical perspective, the current situation
serves as a sobering reminder of the significant obstacles
which exist in overcoming the deep-rooted suspicions and
hatred among the parties in the region. It has been the
Republic of Korea’s consistent view that only through
open-minded and serious dialogue can the parties concerned
overcome these formidable impediments to peace and
security in the Middle East.
At this critical juncture, my delegation firmly believes
that only restraint by the parties directly concerned can

Mr. Nkgowe (Botswana): The Security Council
unanimously adopted resolution 1039 (1996) on 29
January 1996. That resolution extended the mandate of
the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
for a further period of six months. This was yet another
demonstration of the commitment of the international
community to the restoration of peace and normalcy in
Lebanon. It had been our hope that the signing of the
Declaration of Principles between Israel and the Palestine
Liberation Organization in 1993, the conclusion of the
Israel-Jordan Agreement and the talks between Israel and
Syria would have a positive impact on the relations
between Israel and Lebanon.
Our hopes were shattered by the horrendous pictures
which have appeared on our television screens during the
last few days. We are gravely appalled by the
indiscriminate killings of innocent Lebanese civilians, the
destruction of their villages and towns and the
bombardment of power plants, none of which have been
proved to have had anything to do with Hezbollah. The
current destruction and mayhem caused by the Israeli
military forces has resulted in the displacement of over
400,000 people, thus creating a serious humanitarian
catastrophe. This situation does not augur well for peace
in the area. It can only have an effect opposite to that
which Israel expects: a groundswell of support for
Hezbollah and bitter resentment and hatred for Israel.
The horrid activities of Hezbollah cannot and must
not be used as a pretext for the annihilation of the people
of Lebanon, for whatever reason. Not every Lebanese is
a member or supporter of Hezbollah.
The Israeli military attacks against the people of
Lebanon must cease immediately.
Yet we are acutely aware that Israel cannot be
expected to watch impassively when Hezbollah continues
to rain bombs into its territory, causing turmoil and

11

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
unmitigated tragedy. It is equally true that Hezbollah will
continue to carry out attacks against Israel in an effort to
dislodge the latter from southern Lebanon, which it
occupies in violation of Security Council resolution
425 (1978). One thing leads to the other: Hezbollah attacks
invite massive Israeli retaliatory strikes, in most cases
against civilian targets.
This seesaw of attacks and massive reprisals is a
dangerous game which, unfortunately, involves human
lives, and it should not be allowed to continue indefinitely
in a region as volatile as the Middle East. The current
carnage unleashed against the people of Lebanon, like the
assassination of Prime Minister Rabin and the suicide
attacks against the innocent civilian population of Israel,
serves as a constant reminder of the reality that the Middle
East still remains a cauldron of conflict and bloodshed.
The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon are
today being violated with reckless abandon by Israel, and
the long-term consequences of the Israeli actions are
difficult to predict. National security is often cited as the
reason for these attacks, but everyone, including Hezbollah,
should by now have realized that the politics of mutual
destruction cannot enhance the security of anyone in the
region. They have been playing this dangerous game for far
too long. They must today realize that there is an
alternative to war and destruction.
The only sensible and realistic solution to the Middle
East problem is for the parties to engage in purposeful
negotiations aimed at the attainment of a just and lasting
peace. In this regard, we strongly support the commendable
efforts of the Governments of the United States and the
Russian Federation in encouraging the parties to the Middle
East conflict to negotiate a comprehensive political
settlement. The bombardment of Lebanon is a major
setback to these peace efforts, but everything that can be
done must be done to ensure that the peace initiatives are
not frustrated. The alternative to the peace efforts can only
be more conflict and bloodshed, war and destruction. And
we do not think that they are in the interests of any nation
or organization in the region.
Mr. Terzi di Sant’Agata (Italy): I have the honour to
speak on behalf of the European Union. The following
Member States which are associated with the European
Union have expressed their intention of associating
themselves with this statement: Bulgaria, the Czech
Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland,
Romania and Slovakia.

12

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
The European Union expresses its grave concern at
the escalation of military activity in Israel and Lebanon,
which has resulted in the loss of many innocent lives and
has caused hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee their
homes. This is creating a major humanitarian crisis. The
European Union also expresses its concern about the
security of the United Nations peace-keeping force, the
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and
calls on all sides to ensure that its safety is not put at
risk.
While reaffirming its commitment to the
implementation of resolution 425 (1978), the European
Union calls upon all parties to show the greatest
moderation and to cease military activities, in the
conviction that violence assists only the enemies of peace.
The European Union also calls on each party to the peace
process to use the influence at its disposal to contribute to
reducing tension in order to create a more relaxed climate
in the interests of all the peoples of the region.
Mrs. Albright (United States of America):
Hezbollah attacks into northern Israel have once again
compelled the Israeli Government to take steps it deems
necessary to protect its people from direct threats
emanating from Lebanese territory. This tragic situation
has resulted in losses of life and property, suffering, and
dislocations of innocent civilians on both sides of the
border. My Government extends its condolences and
sympathy to those innocent civilians. We deeply regret
the loss of any civilian life. The people of northern Israel
and southern Lebanon have for too long been the victims
of terrorists who take sanctuary in southern Lebanon.
Yet those terrorists continue to wreak havoc.
Hezbollah leaders are repeating their threats to attack
Israeli and United States targets across the globe.
Despite the extraordinary transformations that have
occurred in the Middle East over these past few years, the
leaders of Hezbollah have not changed. Still they cling to
their policies of violence and their philosophy of hate.
Still they lack the courage to contemplate peace, because
peace would make them irrelevant. Still they continue
their war on the future, and people throughout the region
are harmed.
Hezbollah’s violence damages not only Israel and
the prospects for a Middle East peace; it undermines the
safety of people in Lebanon and the legitimacy of the
Lebanese State. Those who allow Hezbollah’s militia to
act with impunity in Lebanon must bear responsibility for

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
the consequences. These consequences include not only
abuses to the State of Lebanon from within, but actions of
self-defence by Israel in response to Hezbollah violence.
Hezbollah will not and must not succeed in its destabilizing
aims. The United States is now engaged in an intensive
diplomatic effort to restore calm and establish a more stable
situation in the area which would enhance the security and
well-being of the civilian population of both southern
Lebanon and northern Israel. This would enable us to return
to the paramount task of assisting the parties in settling
their conflict through direct negotiations.
People throughout the region have invested their hopes
and dreams in the peace process. We are committed to
using our influence to help ensure the right of nations to
live within secure, internationally recognized borders. We
also remain committed to the sovereignty, independence,
territorial integrity, and national unity of Lebanon.

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
There are, however, limits to the utility of debate if
it obscures what is, I believe, the overriding concern of
all in this room: to achieve an end to the cycle of
violence and a return to the peace process. My
Government has condemned the continuing rocket and
other attacks by Hezbollah on northern Israel, which have
led to civilian casualties. We have placed on record our
deep concern at the loss of life we are now seeing among
civilians in Lebanon, and the severe humanitarian
problems created by the departure of so many people
from southern Lebanon in the face of attacks on
population centres.

“The division today in the Middle East is not between
Arab and Jew. It is between those who are reaching
for a better tomorrow and those who have retreated
into the pointless, bloody hostility of yesterday. We
must be clear; those reaching for the future will
prevail.”

But expressions of concern are not enough. It seems
to my delegation that what we must do is focus on the
most urgent requirement, which is for all parties to move
to restore peace and a measure of stability in southern
Lebanon. Attacks directed at civilian targets must end.
The 1993 arrangement should be respected, or a more
effective one put in its place. We pay tribute to the efforts
of the United States and others to that end. Senior
officials of the British Government are currently in the
region, and we will do all we can to support such efforts,
and to encourage the only possible long-term solution:
resumption of the peace process, in accordance with the
relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution
425 (1978), with the aim of creating a situation in which
the citizens of all States in the region can live securely
within their borders, free from fear of external attack.

All history tells us that extremists and terrorists will
persist in efforts to slow or derail the process towards peace
in the Middle East. All history tells us that we must defeat
those efforts, and encourage the parties to continue to talk
directly to each other about their differences, and about the
ways and means of a permanent peace. Direct contact,
across the bargaining table, not the battlefield, is the only
path by which true security for people throughout the
region may be obtained.

Mr. Wlosowicz (Poland): At the outset, the Polish
delegation wishes to express its deep concern at the
escalation of armed tensions in southern Lebanon. We do
not accept military means as a solution to the problems of
the Middle East. This is why we deplore rocket attacks
launched at northern Israel as well as the air
bombardment of Lebanon. Such actions victimize the
civilian population, which is unacceptable. The Middle
East peace process is in jeopardy.

Mr. Plumbly (United Kingdom): This is likely to be
a long debate, and my delegation has already expressed its
views on another aspect of the Middle East question. I do
not therefore intend to speak at great length. There is a
tendency in the work of this Council towards more open
debates as a way of orienting the Council’s consideration of
an issue and exposing it to the views of those most directly
concerned. In that sense we understand and support the
request of the Government of Lebanon for today’s formal
meeting and have listened closely to the interventions so
far, in particular those of the delegations of Israel and
Lebanon.

Poland, always guided by the principles of respect
for territorial integrity, the sovereignty of States and the
peaceful resolution of conflicts, firmly confirms its
attachment to the right of nations to a secure and peaceful
existence. We are strongly against any form of violence,
the resort to which always gives rise to stumbling blocks
on the path towards dialogue, coexistence and
understanding. This truth has been confirmed by the
history of the Middle East. Violence must not determine
the fate of the peoples who inhabit that territory.

There is much work to be done to reach a peaceful
settlement. We must not let the passions of the moment
distract us from that task. As President Clinton has said,

13

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
We call upon all the parties involved to exercise selfrestraint and to refrain from any actions that might result in
further escalation of tensions in the region. We further
appeal to the sides in the conflict to take all necessary
measures to ensure peace and regional stability. In this
context, we deem it important to underscore the need for
cooperation by the parties concerned with the Security
Council, with a view to implementing resolution 425
(1978).
Since the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
(UNIFIL) forces are instrumental in this process we insist
that the parties renounce any action that might endanger
their safety and security. We call upon them to refrain from
creating situations which might put at risk the civilian
population living on either side of the Israeli-Lebanese
border and to respect the pertinent international conventions
which are in force in this regard.
May I add that Poland supports the statement of the
European Union presented on this item by the delegation of
Italy.
Mr. Elaraby (Egypt) (interpretation from Arabic):
The mere fact that the Security Council is meeting twice in
one day to consider Israeli measures against two Arab
peoples is a source of grave concern. That concern is all the
greater when we recall that there is an ongoing peace
process to settle the Arab-Israeli conflict. This began in
Madrid and has thus far resulted in an agreement on the
principles of a historic reconciliation between Israel and the
Palestinians as well as a peace treaty with Jordan. Any
observer of the situation in the Middle East must realize the
gravity of the dangers facing the region as a result of
continuing Israeli attacks to the north, the east and the
south.

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
It has resorted to that rationale to invade Lebanon,
to attack its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to
continue occupying part of southern Lebanese territory on
the pretext of ensuring northern Israel’s security. We must
take a stand against such claims. The facts show that for
the past two decades the Israeli occupation has not
guaranteed security for Israel’s citizens. On the contrary,
it has led to further movement towards violent opposition
by those who grew up under the heel of the occupation.
All the evidence points to the fact that individuals have
taken up opposition, extremism and violence as a means
to end Israeli occupation. This is a direct, inevitable result
of their oppression and suffering. Moreover, we can find
no appropriate justification for these intense Israeli raids:
the five-day bombardment of Lebanese population
centres, towns and villages, leading to the death of
dozens, the wounding of approximately 100 and the
displacement of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese. Any
fair-minded observer will conclude that these raids have
become an all-out war against an entire people, not
simply against those few who have directed bombs
against northern Israel.
Any armed aggression against a neighbouring State,
whatever the motive, constitutes prohibited aggression.
Yet self-defence too has rules prescribed by the United
Nations and contemporary international law. First and
foremost, under Article 51 of the Charter, there must have
been an actual armed attack. Firing Katyusha rockets
across borders is indeed a proscribed act which must
cease forthwith. This is clear. However, the armistice
agreement between Lebanon and Israel continues
officially to stand; the mechanisms provided for in the
armistice should have been invoked to deal with these
events.

Israel is waging aggression by air, sea and land against
Lebanon. This is aggression against Lebanon’s sovereignty
and territorial integrity, aggression that extends from Tyre
in the south, to Beirut, the capital, to Tripoli in the north.
Dozens have died, and many more innocent unarmed
civilians have been hurt.

Secondly, the situation should have been put to the
Security Council. Israel and Lebanon are parties to the
peace process, and are negotiating directly on a peaceful
settlement to their dispute on the basis of land for peace.
During these negotiations Israel can raise such issues.
Agreement may be reached between both parties on
security guarantees based not on military hegemony, but
on mutual confidence.

The Israeli Government claims that this aggression is
self-defence and that it is merely a limited measure — or
a “surgical operation” — to eliminate Hezbollah
combatants. Israel has constantly justified its repeated
aggression against Lebanon’s sovereignty by invoking the
right of self defence in the face of individual attacks from
southern Lebanon.

Thirdly, self-defence by States is not a blank cheque
to be used to wage aggression on others. An element of
proportionality is involved. The scale, duration and
objective of military activity must be proportionate to the
reason for such activity.

14

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
Nor can we consider that Israel was unable to invoke
other means, such as the Security Council or other
channels, to find the means to obtain security. This is
contemporary international law. But, even if we were to
take a step back to the nineteenth century we would find
that the international community had agreed more than 150
years ago to specific terms for the use of self-defence.
Daniel Webster, then Secretary of State of the United States
of America, declared that the right of self-defence implied
the instant and overwhelming necessity for self-defence,
leaving no choice of means and no time for deliberation.
Lacking these conditions, the use of military force is
considered an act of reprisal prohibited by international law.
The Security Council has had occasion to condemn such
acts many times in the past.
Egypt has repeatedly asserted the need to put an end
to Israeli attacks against Lebanese territory and sovereignty.
Today Egypt calls on the Security Council to shoulder its
responsibility to put an end to those attacks through specific
measures leading to an immediate cease-fire, an immediate
end to military activities and a full Israeli withdrawal to the
internationally recognized borders.
The time has come for Israel to act in a civilized
manner in its relations with Lebanon, recognizing
Lebanon’s sovereignty and satisfying the requirements of
Security Council resolutions, particularly resolution 425
(1978), which calls on Israel to cease its military action
against Lebanese territorial integrity and to withdraw its
forces from all Lebanese territory. In this appeal, we do not
set aside Israel’s right — indeed, every State’s right — to
demand an end to attacks against its citizens.
The United Nations can play a pivotal role in
implementing security guarantees in southern Lebanon,
either through the Armistice Commission or through the
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which
was created by the Security Council under resolution 425
(1978) to ensure complete Israeli withdrawal, to regain
peace and security and to help the Lebanese Government to
regain effective control over the south of the country. We
hope that the United Nations will provide assistance to the
Lebanese Government to deal with the humanitarian needs
arising from the displacement of so many Lebanese from
their homes, towns and villages.
We hope that the Israeli Government will heed the
will of the international community, as represented by the
Security Council, and that it will put an end to its attacks
against Lebanon, so that security and stability, for which

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
the Lebanese people so bravely continue to strive, will
return despite the difficulties the country now faces.
Mr. Mano Queta (Guinea-Bissau) (interpretation
from French): The peace process in the Middle East could
be jeopardized if the international community and the
parties concerned do not act to halt the military escalation
in southern Lebanon and to relaunch the peace process
that is under way in the region. The recent military
operations against cities and towns in southern Lebanon
must be the concern of the entire international
community, because they violate the relevant resolutions
of the Security Council, in particular resolution 425
(1978).
As we have already said on many occasions, our
country has condemned the acts of terrorism recently
perpetrated in Israel against the innocent civilian
population. None the less, we deplore any act of violence
that could bring suffering to innocent people, wherever
they may be. In this respect, we wish to express our full
solidarity with the civilian population of Lebanon and, in
particular, with the families of the victims. These cycles
of violence serve only to give rise to renewed feelings of
hatred in the region, which jeopardize peace and security.
For humanitarian reasons, we urgently appeal to the
international community to come to the aid of the
suffering population of Lebanon.
In conclusion, we reiterate our conviction and our
hope that, with determination and goodwill on the part of
all those concerned, the provisions of the peace accords
will soon be relaunched in the region so that a just,
lasting and comprehensive peace can be established in the
Middle East. We thus call for an immediate cease-fire so
that negotiations can resume.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): I shall
now make a statement in my capacity as the
representative of Chile.
What is happening today in Lebanon is a throwback
to conditions we thought had been overcome. Lebanon
and its people have suffered a great deal over the past
decades. While many questions remained to be resolved,
we were pleased to see how that country was returning to
a process of normalcy. Its population, known for its hard
work, was attempting to overcome the ravages of
confrontation.

15

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
The attacks by Hezbollah in northern Israel and those
by Israeli military planes and other means on various areas
of Lebanese territory only bring back that nightmare of the
past. All military activity must come to an immediate end.
In our view, this military escalation cannot continue.
Israeli planes and helicopters have attacked Beirut for
the first time in 14 years. The number of deaths, including
those of innocent civilians, increases daily as a result of
these actions. Again we have witnessed the tragedy of
thousands of persons fleeing from their homes towards the
north of Lebanon, in a quest for safety — nearly 800,000
refugees and displaced persons. We are concerned at the
humanitarian situation. We must support the work of the
humanitarian agencies in Lebanon, which Chile is doing
through the Red Cross.
On the other hand, we cannot fail to mention the
attacks by Hezbollah, which have wounded many people in
northern Israel, from where many Israelis also have fled to
the south in search of safety.
At this time we cannot but support the appeal that was
made by the Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali,
to all parties to refrain from escalating the violence across
the Israeli-Lebanese border, reiterating his concern at the
continued hostilities and in particular at the attacks against
civilians. We also support the recent steps taken by France
in this connection.
The international community must not permit any
group to use violence and terror as a means of imposing its
point of view. Terror, anonymous or official, is not the
way. Nothing can be achieved through those channels, but
a great deal can be lost if this type of action continues, in
particular the peace process in the Middle East.
We appeal to the Government of Israel to put an end,
as soon as possible, to its armed incursions into Lebanese
territory and to apply the principle of proportionality.
Furthermore, we reaffirm our support for Security
Council resolution 425 (1978), which demanded that Israel
cease its military action against Lebanese territorial integrity
and withdraw its forces from all the territory of that
country.
We also have told all those who believe it possible to
achieve their objectives through terrorism that it is
completely clear to the international community that
nothing can justify acts of terrorism against human beings,
who stand above and beyond States. Acts of terrorism bring

16

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
about only death, destruction, misery, hatred and the urge
for revenge.
The true fight is the fight for peace, for the security
of all human beings and for the integrated development of
the entire region. It is towards that objective that Israelis,
Palestinians, Lebanese and the citizens of the entire
Middle East must turn. With determination, tolerance and
shared work, they will be able to achieve a better world,
worthy of their children and their children’s children. The
United Nations will have to be watchful so that it can
support them in every way towards that end.
I now resume my functions as President of the
Council.
The next speaker is the representative of the United
Arab Emirates. I invite him to take a seat at the Council
table and to make his statement.
Mr. Samhan (United Arab Emirates) (interpretation
from Arabic): The Security Council is meeting today for
the second time, following the open debate held on the
request of the Group of Arab States for an open meeting
of the Council on the situation in the occupied Palestinian
territories, including Jerusalem. At this second meeting
we are considering the complaint of the sister Republic of
Lebanon about Israeli aggression against Lebanon’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity. Both cases show the
international concern over Israeli conduct and over its
aggression against Arab States.
On behalf of the United Arab Emirates and as
Chairman of the Arab Group for this month, I would like
to extend to you, Mr. President, and to the members of
the Council my thanks for having taken action in response
to the request by Lebanon in order to study the serious
aggression to which it has been subjected for the past
week. That arbitrary aggression by Israel has resulted in
half a million citizens from the southern part of Lebanon
fleeing their homes and in the destruction of the civil
infrastructure of dwellings.
We have heard the statement by His Excellency the
representative of the sister Republic of Lebanon. In his
statement, he spoke in some detail of Israeli aggression
against his country. I should just like to add that all of the
Arab States are monitoring the Israeli aggression with
great concern. We strongly condemn it, and we fully
support the Government and the people of Lebanon. The
Arab States also reaffirm Lebanon’s right to defend its

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
territory. All necessary measures will be taken to help the
people of Lebanon stand up to this flagrant aggression.
Israel’s bombardment of the capital of Lebanon,
Beirut, as well as of towns and villages, its blockade of
Lebanese ports and the killing of innocent civilians,
including women, children and elderly people, constitute
not just a blatant violation of the security, sovereignty and
territorial integrity of Lebanon, which is a member of this
international Organization and of the League of Arab
States, but also a serious threat to peace and security in the
region and in the world. These acts are also an obstacle to
peace, an obstacle created by Israel because of electoral
considerations and extremism. These obstacles make the
situation more difficult and jeopardize the objective of
peace, which is the aspiration of the Arab States and of our
peoples.
The tragic pictures that one sees on television show a
gross violation of the principles of international law and of
the humanitarian covenants, pacts and principles governing
the treatment of civilians in time of war. The most obvious
example of this was Israel’s firing at an ambulance,
resulting in the deaths of two women and four children.
The arbitrary bombardments of civilian regions are also a
violation of humanitarian law and of the Fourth Geneva
Convention. The International Committee of the Red Cross
issued a statement condemning those Israeli actions, which
led to the deaths of many innocent civilians.
The members of the international community, the
Security Council and the sponsors of the peace process
must fully shoulder their responsibility to deter Israel from
continuing its aggression against Lebanon. A resolution
condemning this aggression and including the necessary
measures to put an end to it should be adopted. Today the
new international order is trying to support efforts for
peace. However, these efforts for peace cannot lead to a
just and lasting solution if the bloodshed continues under
the pretext of securing Israeli borders and putting an end to
acts of resistance by Lebanon. Israeli troops must withdraw
completely from the territories in southern Lebanon that
have been occupied since 1978. The Republic of Lebanon
has resisted, and it is trying to establish its sovereignty over
all its territory, including the south. This is its legitimate
right under the Charter of the United Nations and relevant
Security Council resolutions, particularly resolution 425
(1978). It is time for Israel to realize this and to withdraw
from all Lebanese territory, pursuant to that resolution.
I wish to take this opportunity to urge the international
community to provide emergency humanitarian assistance

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
to Lebanon to ease the suffering of its people, suffering
caused by the Israeli destruction of the economic and
social infrastructure, which is vital to life, and its
aggression against civilians, particularly children, the
elderly and women.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The
next speaker is the representative of Saudi Arabia. I invite
him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his
statement.
Mr. Allagany (Saudi Arabia) (interpretation from
Arabic): We meet once again today to discuss the new
and painful developments in the Middle East. The
Security Council is the highest international political body
entrusted with the task of protecting countries from brute
aggression. It is supposed to follow up its resolutions, and
we believe that meetings of the Council, held as the
situation warrants, to look into the Israeli aggression can
only promote the peace process in the Middle East.
For the fifth day in a row Israel continues by sea, air
and land to wage its military campaign, known as “the
grapes of wrath”, against the civilians in Lebanon. The
military campaign in Lebanon started in the south but
moved to all the regions of the country. The wounded and
the dead number in the hundreds, and more than 600,000
Lebanese have been displaced.
This blatant aggression against Lebanon — this
violation of its national sovereignty — is unjustified and
is in contravention of international laws and norms on the
sovereignty of States. It runs counter to the letter and the
spirit of resolution 425 (1978), which calls upon Israel to
withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territories.
Israel today warned the inhabitants of 40 Lebanese
villages to leave their homes lest they see them destroyed.
Homes were destroyed in the region of Beit Sahmar in
the western Bekaa, where whole families were buried
under rubble.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia believes that it is
unreasonable and unacceptable to continue to pressure
Lebanon using aerial and sea bombardment, thus claiming
the lives of many innocent civilians, destroying their
property and leading to their displacement. This comes in
addition to the sea blockade imposed by Israel upon
northern and southern Lebanon. It is unreasonable and
unacceptable that the women and children of Lebanon
should be the first victims of this blatant aggression.

17

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
We all saw on television the ambulance which was the
target of an aerial bombardment that claimed the lives of
the infant named Muna, three-year-old Zena, four-year-old
Leila, five-year-old Hassan, as well as their mother and
father. And then the official spokesman of the occupation
authorities would say only that the ambulance was targeted
for aerial bombardment because a Lebanese resistance
element was in it. It was an ambulance — it was saving the
wounded.
But the Israeli authorities only keep claiming that this
is an operation to pursue Lebanese resistance elements. Are
the Israeli authorities saying that Lebanese civilians —
specifically the children — bear full responsibility for the
resistance and that they will make no effort to implement
resolution 425 (1978), which calls upon them to withdraw
immediately and unconditionally from Lebanese territories?
Lebanon cannot be responsible for what happens in the
south. It cannot be responsible for all these operations of
resistance to Israeli occupation in that part of Lebanon
unless the Lebanese army is allowed to enter the south to
impose order and to complete Lebanon’s sovereignty over
all its territories. Failing that, the Lebanese Government
cannot be held responsible for what happens in the south.
The principle of land for peace is still awaiting the
concept of land. The principle of withdrawal is still
obscured by the expression “re-deployment”. Israel is
calling for the elimination of resistance without
withdrawing from the south — without any guarantee that
it will implement resolution 425 (1978) and other
resolutions of international legality on the Arab-Israeli
conflict.
Lebanon has entered its post-civil-war recovery period,
and the Government has been rebuilding its infrastructure.
It has borne the effects of the crisis in the Middle East, and
continues to be the victim of continued aggression. The
peace process that began in Madrid four years ago was
based on a comprehensive, just and lasting solution —
meaning land for peace — and the implementation of
resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 425 (1978). As long
as more than one eighth of Lebanon is occupied and Israeli
raids continue to blow up power stations, to interrupt daily
life, to stifle the population with their aerial bombardment,
killing women, children and the elderly before the eyes of
the entire international community, the Security Council’s
equating of aggressor and victim in its approach to
Lebanon’s complaints will remain devoid of justice.

18

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
We are looking for real, permanent peace in the
Middle East, and a permanent settlement of the ArabIsraeli conflict. We appeal to the international community
to adopt a unified stand against this senseless Israeli
aggression against Lebanon and immediately to provide
assistance to the Lebanese. We appeal to the co-sponsors
of the Middle East peace process to pressure Israel to
implement the agreements into which it has entered and
to achieve progress on the Lebanese and Syrian tracks by
implementing resolutions of international legality, so that
the rights can revert to those who possess them and the
land to those who own it. Then we can call it a just and
lasting settlement.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The
next speaker is the representative of the Syrian Arab
Republic. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table
and to make his statement.
Mr. Hallak (Syrian Arab Republic) (interpretation
from Arabic): The Security Council is meeting for the
second time today to take up Israeli practices in occupied
lands and blatant aggression against Lebanon. The
extensive military aggression that Israel has been waging
against Lebanon for the past five days marks a serious
escalation of tension and poses a threat to peace and
stability in the region. This aggression has targeted
population centres in many towns and villages — all the
way up to the capital, Beirut. It has caused the death of
dozens; it has wounded hundreds of innocent Lebanese
civilians; more than half a million Lebanese have been
forcibly displaced from their towns and villages.
Furthermore, infrastructure has been destroyed; vital
installations, including shelters and power stations, have
been destroyed. In this context, I must mention that the
world will never forget the frightful sight transmitted on
television stations everywhere of four children killed by
Israeli aircraft while in an ambulance on their way to
hospital.
Lebanon accepted the peace process that began at
the Madrid conference on the basis of the conference goal
of establishing a just and comprehensive peace in the
Middle East based on the implementation of resolutions
242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 425 (1978), and on the
principle of land for peace. Lebanon has also cooperated
with the efforts of the two co-sponsors of the peace
process towards that end. However, Lebanese efforts have
come up against Israeli intransigence, and Israel’s
continuing challenge of international legitimacy through
its failure to implement resolution 425 (1978) and through
waging a new, wide-ranging act of aggression.

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
In the face of these grave developments proceeding
from the Israeli aggression against Lebanon and of the
tragic situation of the Lebanese people today, the Security
Council is duty-bound not to ignore the failure to respect
and to implement its own resolutions. That would
jeopardize its role and its duty to maintain international
peace and security.
Israel’s security has been the pretext invoked by Israel
for waging all its wars of aggression, even though it must
realize that genuine security cannot be achieved through
continuing occupation. Genuine security will be achieved
through the withdrawal from all occupied territories and
through the implementation of a just and comprehensive
peace; it will not be achieved through further aggression
against the Lebanese people.
It must be remembered that occupation is not
conducive to peace and security. Force has not succeeded
in the past, and will not succeed now or in the future and
it will not achieve security for Israel.
The extremism exemplified in the aggression against
Lebanon proves that Israel is attempting to back away from
the peace process, from the achievement of a just and
comprehensive peace.
The members of the Security Council, particularly its
permanent members, must therefore shoulder their
responsibilities immediately in order to put an end to Israeli
aggression against Lebanon and to avoid a further grave
deterioration of the situation in the region.
We should also like to affirm here that the aggression
against Lebanon, the continued Israeli intransigence, would
not have taken place or continued had the Security Council
been firm in adopting the measures necessary to make
Israel implement resolution 425 (1978), which
unambiguously called upon Israel to withdraw immediately
and unconditionally from all Lebanese territories. It is
unacceptable for legitimate international resolutions,
particularly those of the Security Council, to be held
hostage to Israel’s aggressive instincts or expansionist
ambitions.
Syria has made the strategic choice of working
towards the achievement of a just and comprehensive
peace. We have made a serious contribution to overcoming
all the political and practical obstacles Israel has put in the
way of the peace process. Syria continues to believe that
the establishment of genuine peace in the region is
incompatible with continuing occupation and acts of

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
aggression. Peace can be achieved through a commitment
to implement the relevant Security Council resolutions —
and if Israel erects no further obstacles to the peace
process.
We call upon the Security Council to intervene
immediately to put an end to Israeli aggression against
Lebanon and to make Israel heed the will of the
international community, to guarantee Lebanon’s
sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity.
In the face of continuing Israeli aggression against
Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic condemns the flagrant
Israeli aggression against our brother, Lebanon. We
support the demand of the Permanent Representative of
Lebanon that Israeli aggression be condemned, that Israel
be forced immediately to cease its aggression, and that
the Council remain seized of this grave situation.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The
next speaker is the representative of Cuba. I invite him to
take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.
Mr. Rodríguez Parrilla (Cuba) (interpretation from
Spanish): The aggression which Israel is perpetrating
against Lebanon must be halted immediately and the
occupied territories must be returned. The Security
Council must reaffirm all the provisions of resolution
425 (1978) and take the measures necessary to bring
about its implementation.
The situation of acts of aggression against Lebanon
is untenable. A growing loss of human life is being added
to the material costs. Air-, sea- and land-based attacks on
all parts of Lebanon, which violate international law and
the Charter of the United Nations, are bringing new
suffering to the Lebanese civilian population, which is
most affected by these attacks. To the numerous civilian
casualties an increase of more than 600,000 in the number
of displaced persons has been added.
Life in southern Lebanon, already permanently
affected by continued Israeli occupation, is becoming
even more precarious under current conditions. More than
50 villages and cities have been evacuated; areas near the
capital of Lebanon are being attacked, and the city of
Tyre is threatened with bombardment — some of its
archaeological zones have already been damaged by
Israel’s attacks. No part of the country has escaped these
acts of aggression; even Palestinian camps in the north of
the country have been bombed.

19

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
The targets being bombed are civilian and of economic
importance to Lebanon. We wonder whether these
belligerent actions also represent an attempt to thwart
Lebanese economic recovery, which was on the right track
after years of war, or to terrorize the civilian population and
create movements of refugees in order to create more
difficulties for the Lebanese authorities in the process of
rebuilding the country.
Cuba considers that the actions unleashed today
against Lebanon, which constitute an unacceptable violation
of the sovereignty of that country, increase the corollary
danger of an escalation that would be difficult to control
and could have unforeseeable consequences for the region.
The attacks on Lebanon endanger the peace process in the
Middle East as a whole and place one more obstacle in its
way, especially when they are added to the actions taken
against the Palestinian population, which were denounced
in the Security Council earlier today. Only the withdrawal
of Israel from the occupied territories can ensure the peace
and security of the region.
Cuba rejects terrorism in all its forms. The Cuban
people have been victims of terrorist acts for over 35 years.
These acts perpetrated by Israel, instead of ending the
escalation of violence, will tend to provoke more violence.
Instead of mitigating tension, they will exacerbate it.
Instead of promoting confidence, they will inevitably
magnify distrust. The Security Council must unequivocally
condemn Israeli aggression against Lebanon, against its
civilian population, its infrastructure and the archaeological
sites that have been proclaimed the common heritage of
mankind. It must take all necessary measures to halt this
aggression. To fail to do so would be like decreeing
impunity for Israeli actions against Lebanon, which would
have a harmful effect not only on that country and on the
security of its population, but also on international peace
and security. It would set a precedent making it possible to
launch attacks on and violate the sovereignty of a State, to
kill and destroy with impunity if one has the right friends
and if they wield enough power in the Security Council.
If ending aggression is important, it is also important
to achieve the approval of an integral programme of
cooperation with Lebanon to provide its Government with
the necessary resources to heal the wounds caused by the
aggression. Furthermore, the Security Council should
remain in session until this new and dangerous threat to
international peace and security comes to a halt.

20

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The
next speaker is the representative of Kuwait. I invite him
to take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.
Mr. Abulhasan (Kuwait) (interpretation from
Arabic): It is perhaps unprecedented in the history of the
deliberations of the Security Council that the Council
should be convened twice in one day to debate two
different subjects with the complaint being against the
same party in both cases. As was discussed in the Council
this morning, Israel’s inhuman retaliatory measures
undermine the foundations of peace in the West Bank and
the Gaza Strip. The Council is now discussing the Israeli
aggression that began five days ago against Lebanon, an
independent country and a Member of the United Nations.
This aggression is directed against its sovereignty, its
territorial integrity and its people — a people with a great
history and civilization, a people that has been sincere in
its efforts to achieve peace, security, prosperity and
progress for itself and for the peoples of the region.
The common denominator in both complaints is the
approach adopted by Israel in dealing with developments
in the area, an approach that knows nothing except the
logic of brute force, oppression and collective punishment
as a means of resolving disputes. It does not believe that
peace and security are also based upon the
implementation of demands of international legitimacy,
foremost among which are the resolutions of the Security
Council.
Israel, more than any other country, should learn the
lessons of the tragic experiences that it has brought upon
its neighbouring countries. Having tasted their bitterness,
Israel should heed those lessons and not adopt again the
method of revenge, which has brought to the region only
instability, destruction, misery, frustration and extremism,
all at the expense of the desired peace and economic
development. The path to peace has never been and never
will be easy. It requires great care, effort and sacrifices.
Peace will not die. It will not be made into a mirage
unless military logic prevails and military power is used
excessively to deal with every little incident.
For the past five days Lebanon has faced blatant
aggression and is still facing it. Security and peace are
threatened not only in Lebanon, but in the Middle East as
a whole. This will lead to uncontrollable consequences
unless the roots of the problem — Israel’s continued
occupation and its refusal to accept Lebanon’s legitimate
right to rid itself of that occupation — can be dealt with.

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
Israel has ignored Security Council resolution 425
(1978), and all appeals made by the Council and by
regional and international organizations have fallen on deaf
ears. It has paid absolutely no heed to the tragedy and pain
left by its aggressive and oppressive policy against the
Lebanese people. It has never respected the central concept
of the Madrid Peace Conference — based on the principle
of land for peace — which was supposed to be a historic
turning point in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel wants to
maintain its occupation of the territories through brute
military force, under the pretext of ensuring security for
some of its territories. At the same time, it wants peace
with all, but a peace that takes no account whatsoever of
the legitimate rights of others, or of their political,
economic or social stability.
We have seen in the media pictures of the destruction
wrought on Lebanon: the killing of innocent women,
children and elderly people; the displacement of some
800,000 Lebanese in the south, which His Excellency the
Ambassador of Lebanon described earlier; and the
destruction of Lebanon’s infrastructure, which was recently
rebuilt by the Lebanese Government after difficult years of
instability. Kuwait feels the pain of the brotherly Lebanese
people and shares its feelings during this painful
experience.
Kuwait condemns this aggression; expresses its full
solidarity with the brotherly Lebanese people and its
Government. It calls upon the Security Council to adopt all
necessary measures to stop the aggression immediately and
bring pressure to bear on Israel, by all the means that the
Charter provides, to withdraw from occupied Lebanese
territories and in implementation of resolution 425 (1978).
Furthermore, it urges the Council to provide all the
assistance, including political and financial support, that
Lebanon needs to cope with its plight and to pay great
attention to the human tragedy of forced displacement of
people brought about by Israel’s military might.
The Council of Ministers at a meeting in Kuwait last
Sunday adopted a statement to this effect, and the
Government of Kuwait has extended urgent assistance to
face this tragedy.
The only way open to the Council is to commit Israel
to implement resolution 425 (1978), by withdrawing
completely and unconditionally from all occupied Lebanese
territory, and not to interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs,
thereby giving the flowers of peace an opportunity to
bloom. It should set out on the path of peace, using
wisdom, reason and self-control.

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
We support the peace process in the Middle East.
This process, which was started at the Madrid
Conference, will not achieve success unless peace is
comprehensive and just, not limited to one track while the
other is ignored; peace in which half-baked solutions are
not accepted; peace of partners aiming to achieve
equality, security, stability and economic development,
without diktat, selectivity or the granting of favours.
We appeal to the co-sponsors of the peace process
not to let hope — the hope of the Conference — dissipate
and to advocate the essence of the Conference, namely,
land for peace.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The
next speaker is the representative of the Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table
and to make his statement.
Mr. Azwai (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) (interpretation
from Arabic): The Security Council is meeting for the
second time today to consider events in the Middle East.
This morning the Council met to consider Israeli
practices in the occupied territories, practices that, as is
well known, have reached a level of harshness that may
destroy the dreams of peace of the most ardent optimists.
None the less, the Security Council merely heard the
statements of a number of countries without taking any
measures. We all know the reasons.
The Council is meeting this evening to consider the
crimes perpetrated by the Israelis against the brother
people of Lebanon, crimes perpetrated using military
machinery of all kinds to bombard towns and villages in
Lebanon with the pretext of attacking Hezbollah bases.
The media have shown us columns upon columns of
women and children. Are those children the fighters and
combatants of Hezbollah? Those other children, torn to
pieces, in an ambulance — are they also combatants? Do
they deserve to be bombed in order to be an example to
others?
What is the reason for all this Israeli madness, for
such muscle-flexing and violence? It is that the Lebanese
resistance has hit the forces of an occupation rejected by
the entire world, an occupation on which the Security
Council adopted resolution 425 (1978), demanding
Israel’s withdrawal from all Lebanese territory.
Although 18 years have passed, Israel has not
implemented that resolution. Israel continues to occupy a

21

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
part of southern Lebanon, on the pretext that Lebanese
resistance continues to fight for its land. What logic is this
that calls on the victim to put an end to resisting the
aggressor? The Israelis, by this air, land and sea blitz on
Lebanon, want to impose the unthinkable on the Lebanese
authorities: they want the Lebanese authorities to put an end
to the Lebanese resistance, and then to stand guard for the
occupying army until it is sated by its occupation.
Ultimately, they want to terrorize the Arab and Islamic
nations. They want them to kneel, to accept the fait
accompli and, finally, hoist the white flag.
We call upon the Security Council today to intervene
forcefully: not merely to condemn Israeli aggression but to
order the Israelis to withdraw immediately from southern
Lebanon, in accordance with resolution 425 (1978), and to
compensate Lebanon for all the human and material losses
it has suffered as a result of this occupation and this
aggression.
We call upon the international community to remind
Israel — and the United States of America, which has
given its blessing to these acts of aggression — that this
barbaric aggression against Lebanon and the humiliating
manner in which Palestinians are being treated in the
occupied territories do not serve security and do not make
peace. Rather, they merely push every Arab to the very
brink of despair. If the Security Council does not act to put
an end forthwith to this blatant aggression, the negative
repercussions will be graver than what Israel imagines. The
river has turned into a roiling torrent. As the Arabic poem
says,
“If death is inevitable, shame on you if you die a
coward”.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The next
speaker is the representative of Algeria. I invite him to take
a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.
Mr. Lamamra (Algeria) (interpretation from French):
For five days now, the territory of Lebanon has been
overwhelmed by an onslaught of Israeli aggressive violence,
which has caused the death of many innocent civilians as
well as considerable material damage.
The Government of Algeria has strongly condemned
these recent acts of Israeli aggression, perpetrated in
violation of the basic rules of international law and of the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon. It also
believes that by resorting to force in this way, Israel has
done grave damage to the necessary conditions for the

22

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace
in the Middle East, which is a legitimate aspiration of all
peoples in the region.
Almost 20 years have elapsed since the Security
Council adopted resolution 425 (1978), requiring Israel’s
unconditional withdrawal from southern Lebanon. In that
resolution, the Council took a step in keeping with the
Charter of the United Nations and with the requirements
of international relations, which must be protected from
unilateral faits accomplis based on relations of force.
Since then, the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon,
which has continued, has been a hotbed of fermenting
violence, spawning an infernal logic that has thwarted
regional stability and the commendable efforts of the
Lebanese Government to establish State authority
throughout the whole of its territory. Thus, the
implementation of resolution 425 (1978), for which the
Council set no preconditions, is more than ever as an
absolute necessity. The futility of territorial bargaining
chips has been proved time and again, and the human
price of military actions can go no higher without
imperiling the prospects for peace throughout the whole
region.
Since the Security Council stopped regularly taking
up developments in the situation in southern Lebanon and
since the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations
Interim Force in Lebanon does not involve an evaluation
of efforts made in the implementation of resolution 425
(1978), an unfortunate phenomenon has arisen — that of
becoming inured to recurrent outbreaks of violence and
the accompanying upheavals for the civilian population.
But recent events in Lebanon are of such magnitude and
scope that a reaction by the international community is
urgently needed to avoid a double catastrophe —
humanitarian and political. The Council, and particularly
its permanent members, must be moved by the gravity of
the situation to act resolutely and effectively so that the
future of peace and security to which the peoples of the
region aspire is not further jeopardized.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The
next speaker is the representative of Afghanistan. I invite
him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his
statement.
Mr. Farhadi (Afghanistan) (interpretation from
French): The Afghan delegation deeply appreciates your
decision, Mr. President, and that of the other members of
the Council to convene this meeting.

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
We heard the voice of Ambassador Moubarak of
Lebanon and the statement of the Ambassador of Israel. We
also heard other delegations, from countries which, in some
cases, are very well versed in the situation in the region.
We know that the Secretary-General remains deeply
concerned by the continuation of hostilities along the
Israeli-Lebanese border and within Lebanon.
Someone who was there — the Commander of the
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon — has lodged a
protest with the head of the liaison unit of the Israeli
Defence Force, expressing his fear that this action could
lead to a further escalation of violence.
Israel speaks to us of self-defence. Let us compare the
number of dead and wounded on the two sides of the
border. Is there any proportionality? Does Israel believe that
by acting — as Israel puts it — in self-defence, it has the
right to exceed all the limits? The Israeli military actions of
the last five days have been extremely violent. They have
exhibited no restraint, aiming at civilians, including women
and children. Does Israel believe that it will achieve peace
by such means? Does Israel believe that by running counter
to the spirit of the peace process, it can claim to strengthen
that process?
Has Israel asked itself what there is to gain by forcing
thousands of innocent civilians to flee from their homes, by
engendering suffering and hatred among the peoples
neighbouring Israel? Can that country improve its future
security? In asking these questions my delegation is not
seeking to teach Israel lessons, but we have the
fundamental right to ask ourselves those questions. Faced
with the tragedy of the Lebanese people, and looking at this
escalation of acts of violence and unrestrained acts of
revenge, we wonder how this can encourage the peace
process in the region. How can these military actions,
running counter to resolution 425 (1978), which reaffirms
in absolute terms the importance of the sovereignty of
Lebanon, encourage the maintenance of peace and
especially the coexistence of nations in adjacent territories
in the future? What are the political and ideological
consequences of a massive flight of civilians, so massive
that it is beyond the potential of Lebanon itself and even of
the international community to provide enough assistance?
Once again Israel, by such attacks against innocent
civilians, is violating article 33 of the Fourth Geneva
Convention, of which it is a signatory. Can this escalation
of violence lead to an end of violence? Can these losses of
human life, as a result of destructive airpower, bring about
good neighbourliness in the future between men on Earth?

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
Does rocket fire against ambulances work in favour of
peace and the future? By destroying one’s neighbours’
villages, can one build a future for peace?
Israel did not turn to the Security Council before
undertaking these large-scale military activities. For the
last five days these vast attacks have been taking place
from land, air and sea. Israel, contrary to its claims, has
not exhausted peaceful means. We therefore ask the
United Nations to take effective and necessary measures
for the establishment of a cease-fire, so that resolution
425 (1978) can be fully applied.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The
next speaker is the representative of Morocco. I invite
him to take a seat at the Council table and to make his
statement.
Mr. Snoussi (Morocco) (interpretation from
French): The Security Council is meeting for a second
time today to deal with problems of the Middle East
region, a region that we had thought was entering a new
era of peace and stability. This interest is a tribute to the
Council. More specifically, this evening we are dealing
with the tragic events experienced by our fraternal
country of Lebanon during these past days, calling into
question the hopes that we all had for peace in a country
which for so long now has suffered and still suffers in its
blood and its flesh.
This morning the Prime Minister of Lebanon,
Mr. Hariri, informed His Majesty The King of the tragic
events that had taken place. The Kingdom of Morocco
and its sovereign expressed their condolences to him, and
I renew those condolences to the delegation of Lebanon.
The tragic situation that has been created in southern
Lebanon is of great concern to my country, because it has
dimmed the prospects and hopes for peace in the region,
and the situation could degenerate into an uncontrollable
conflict. The innocent civilian victims, particularly the
women and children, give this conflict a terrible, tragic
dimension.
My country wishes to salute the international efforts
to put an end to the military operations against the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon. We hope
that this unfortunate development, which we deplore, will
call attention to the need finally to implement Security
Council resolution 425 (1978) and once and for all
eliminate a hotbed of tension which has lasted too long.
The Security Council has a role to play here, and it must
do everything possible now so that these tragic events are

23

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
not repeated and so that Lebanon can salve its wounds and,
through urgent and significant humanitarian aid, rebuild
what has been destroyed.
The principles contained in the resolution remain the
basis for a just, lasting settlement of the conflict between
Lebanon and Israel and for regional stability. It is high time
to prevent new confrontation and to return to that
resolution, which has been somewhat forgotten. It is time
now to resume and complete negotiations finally to bring to
all the countries of the region mutual respect and security,
which means all countries’ ensuring that the security of
their neighbours is respected.
My delegation reiterates once again that we will
continue to support the peace process, which must succeed.
Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Lebanon, the return of the Golan to Syria, in keeping with
the relevant United Nations resolutions, and respect for the
legitimate interests of all the parties concerned — these are
the requirements for establishing the comprehensive nature
of the Middle East peace process on the basis of
international law, opening the way for a Middle East where
relationships are finally based on law, justice, development
and prosperity. Morocco is determined to do everything
possible to contribute to translating this dream into reality
in the region.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The next
speaker is the representative of the Islamic Republic of
Iran. I invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to
make his statement.
Mr. Takht-Ravanchi (Islamic Republic of Iran): The
Islamic Republic of Iran fully supports the convening of
this urgent meeting of the Security Council at the request
of the Government of Lebanon, to consider the continuing
flagrant violation by Israel of Lebanon’s sovereignty and
territorial integrity. The last five days have seen an
unprecedented escalation in these violations. We hope that
today’s deliberation under your leadership, Mr. President,
will yield positive results.
Israel’s premeditated and unbridled aerial and artillery
attacks over the past five days against many civilian
quarters in towns and villages of Lebanon, including the
southern suburbs of Beirut, and its naval blockade of the
port of Beirut are prime examples of acts of terrorism by
Israeli policy makers, who all too readily and conveniently
label others either as terrorists or as supporters of terrorists.

24

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
The recent acts of terrorism by an organized cabal of
Zionist leaders have resulted in the killing and wounding
of several hundred innocent civilians, forcing the
displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, more
every hour, and have inflicted great material damage in
Lebanon. Even a Lebanese ambulance transporting
women and children, and Beirut’s power station, have not
been immune from Israeli attacks and destruction.
Israel’s lawless action in Lebanon is a further grave
violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Lebanon and of the United Nations Charter. It constitutes
a prima facie example of aggression in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 3314 (XXIX) of 1974 — an
aggression and transgression that clearly expose the brutal
and unmalleable nature of the Zionist regime to all eyes
that are open and willing to see. Regrettably, the eyes of
certain States that support and, in practice, sustain Israel
are either closed or unwilling to see.
Israel’s obstinacy in continuing its bombardment of
innocent people in Lebanon, disregarding international
outrage and diplomatic initiatives, clearly points to the
fact that the Zionist leaders have a pre-planned agenda for
the region and will not cease their military operation until
their illegal objectives are achieved. The Israeli media
blitz to disguise these acts of terrorism under the pretext
of taking retaliatory measures does not withstand the most
rudimentary tests, and, in fact, adds insult to injury. The
victims of occupation and of the recent barbarism of the
Israeli military, be they Lebanese or Palestinians, seem to
be the sacrificial lambs of internal Zionist politics and
rivalries.
Southern Lebanon continues to be under Israeli
occupation and aggression in flagrant violation of Security
Council resolution 425 (1978), which inter alia, called
upon Israel
“immediately to cease its military action against
Lebanese territorial integrity and withdraw forthwith
its forces from all Lebanese territory”. (resolution
425 (1978), para. 2)
Whatever happened to the authority and integrity of
Security Council resolutions? Who but Israeli ruling
circles are responsible for the abysmal degradation of that
Security Council resolution over these 18 long years. For
18 years, the Zionist regime has rejected outright the
demands of the international community, with impunity.

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
Another example of Israeli intransigence is the
draconian measures it has imposed for more than a month
against Palestinian people in the occupied territories.
Palestinian people find themselves subject to a blockade of
the occupied territories, including Al-Quds al-Sharif —
closure, reoccupation, demolition of their houses, further
expansion of illegal settlements, severe restrictions on the
movement of persons and goods and the strangulation of
people and their economy as a form of collective
punishment. These Israeli measures, which are implemented
under the barrel of a gun and which have inflicted untold
hardship and sorrow on the Palestinian people, paralysing
their lives in an unprecedented fashion, are in total violation
of the rules and principles of international law, and should
accordingly be condemned and should cease forthwith.
The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns the recent
cowardly, though savage, attacks against defenceless
civilians in Lebanon, and calls on the Security Council to
condemn Israel’s recent terrorist acts in Lebanon, which
have caused tremendous suffering for a country whose
sovereignty and territorial integrity have for a long time
been violated by the Israeli occupation forces.
It is incumbent upon the Security Council to adopt
specific measures to deal with Israeli intransigence in its
non-compliance with Security Council resolution 425
(1978). Israel’s violation of international law is so
enormous and vivid that a lack of an adequate and
necessary response by the Council to these practices will
only encourage the aggressor to continue its aggression.
The Security Council should prevent this inaction from
gaining ground, in order to save the lives of innocent
Lebanese civilians and for the sake of its own credibility.
Before concluding I wish to refer to the statement
made by the representative of the Zionist regime, who, as
usual, resorted to lies about my country. The Islamic
Republic of Iran totally rejects these fabrications. It is
ironic that the occupying regime not only expects a general
surrender and the submission of each and every people and
group in the occupied lands, but also wishes to silence any
voice speaking in moral support of the Lebanese people,
who are struggling to free their homeland from foreign
occupation.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The next
speaker is the representative of Tunisia. I invite him to take
a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
day to take up the deteriorating situation in Lebanon,
having earlier considered a similarly deteriorating
situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. This
testifies to the international community’s concern with
regard to the escalation of violence, the extension of
military operations, and the growing number of deaths.
Peace in the Middle East is indivisible. That is a fact
that we have learned through the bitter experiences of the
Israeli-Arab conflicts over recent years.
Today we are experiencing another tragedy in
Lebanon, where the cycle of violence and tension is
getting worse. Civilian populations are the victims of a
whole series of attacks; even the capital itself, Beirut, is
under attack. This has caused thousands to be killed or
wounded, thousands to be sent into exile, bringing us
back to a time which we thought was over forever, just as
Lebanon was beginning to salve its wounds, to renew its
strength, to regain its health, and to rebuild what war had
destroyed.
Lebanon has suffered an act of aggression against its
sovereignty and its territorial integrity. This is another
form of collective punishment based on the logic of force,
violating the basic principles of the Charter and United
Nations resolutions, particularly resolution 425 (1978).
This new situation is another obstacle to peace, an
inevitable consequence of the climate of tension created
by the situation in Palestine and in the region in general.
The situation has reached a point where we fear the
consequences.
What has happened to the firm position adopted by
Heads of State at Sharm El Sheikh? When they
confronted terrorism to safeguard the peace process from
erosion or any failure, they condemned all forms of
terrorist acts, committed for whatever reason. They urged
the international community as a whole to take steps to
put an end to terrorist actions, and to root out their
causes. We are asked to safeguard the conditions likely to
give momentum to the peace process and to prevent
regression or failure.
Since 1948, the Middle East region has seen a cycle
of violence and counter-violence, leading to the
international community’s consensus convening of the
Madrid Conference, where parties unanimously
recognized and adopted the principle of land for peace.

Mr. Abdellah (Tunisia) (interpretation from Arabic):
The Security Council is meeting for the second time in one

25

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
Resolution 425 (1978) called upon Israel to withdraw
from southern Lebanon, but that resolution has not yet been
implemented, statements made by Israeli leaders
notwithstanding. This shows that there is no real desire on
the part of those authorities. What Israel really wants is to
continue its occupation of Lebanon.
We call upon all parties to safeguard the peace process
and to prevent it from stalling or failing. An immediate stop
must be put to Israel’s operations against Lebanon, and
negotiations must begin immediately to withdraw forces and
to halt military operations, for bitter experience has shown
that such operations are at odds with and cannot attain the
goals they are intended for, as they are rooted in vengeance
and deepening hatred.
The fact that the Security Council is considering on
the same day the situation in Palestine and Lebanon once
again shows that the question of the Middle East, with its
various ramifications, is a single issue. There is no other
way to resolve this crisis than by having the necessary
courage to start negotiations on the question of Palestine as
soon as possible in order finally to find a solution. Israel
must withdraw from southern Lebanon and the Golan in
order that the region can finally experience lasting,
comprehensive peace and all the peoples of the region can
enjoy prosperity and stability, respecting each other and the
rule of law.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The next
speaker is the representative of Malaysia. I invite him to
take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.
Mr. Thanarajasingam (Malaysia): My delegation
would like to express its appreciation to you, Mr. President,
for convening this meeting on the situation in Lebanon.
We note that the Permanent Representative of
Lebanon, as reflected in document S/1996/280, requested
that the Council convene an urgent meeting on the
afternoon of Sunday, 14 April, given the grave
developments in his country.
Speaking during the debate on Palestine held earlier
today, the Malaysian representative referred to the
worsening situation in the Middle East. He stated that the
combined effect of Israeli action in Palestine and Lebanon
at a time of political volatility in Israel itself had reinforced
the position of those exploiters in Israel who want to derail
the peace process, and of extremists outside Israel who
would like to undermine the fragile foundations of peace in
the Middle East.

26

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
The latest series of Israeli attacks, which began last
Thursday, have continued to escalate, threatening the
peace process. The large-scale Israeli bombardment of
many towns and villages in Lebanon, including its capital,
Beirut, has resulted in an alarming number of civilian
dead and wounded, thousands of displaced persons and
severe damage to property. These acts of aggression
cannot but be condemned. It is thus incumbent on the
Council, as a first step, to call for an immediate and
unconditional end to these acts of aggression against
Lebanon.
These attacks have driven hundreds of thousands of
innocent people from their homes to take to the refugee
path. In turn, the refugee problem has begun to pose
serious challenges to the Lebanese Government, which
has in recent years made important strides in rebuilding
the country’s economy and stability. The deliberate
attempt to displace innocent people and wilfully create
suffering for them cannot be condoned. In this regard, the
international community must play its role in addressing
the plight and problem of the refugees as well.
The Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon not only
violates the sovereignty of Lebanon but is becoming
militarily indefensible. The way to protect Israeli security
is through a political compact with neighbours, and the
integrity of Lebanon must be part of that compact. The
military occupation of southern Lebanon by force cannot
guarantee lasting peace and security. In the end, as
leaders such as the late Israeli leader Rabin and the
Palestinian leader Arafat realized, only genuine peace can
promote and eventually safeguard security, stability and
development in the region.
Malaysia fully supports the following five requests,
made earlier to this Council by the Permanent
Representative of Lebanon.
First, Israel must stop immediately its aggression
against Lebanon and withdraw all its reinforcements.
Secondly, the Israeli aggression against Lebanon
must be condemned.
Thirdly, Israel must immediately comply with and
fully implement Security Council resolution 425 (1978).
Fourthly, assistance must be provided for Lebanon
and its people to overcome the suffering and casualties
resulting from the Israeli aggression.

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
Fifthly, the Council must remain seized of this issue.
In conclusion, I wish to underline the need for a
comprehensive, durable and peaceful solution to the Middle
East situation, one that is just and fair and built on the
relevant resolutions of the United Nations.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The next
speaker is the representative of Jordan. I invite him to take
a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.
Mr. Bataineh (Jordan) (interpretation from Arabic):
Allow me to express my appreciation to you, Mr. President,
and to the other members of the Council for urgently
convening this meeting, the second held today to deal with
questions relating to the Middle East. We express that
appreciation in the context of the worsening situation in
relations between Israel and our sister country Lebanon.
This sudden deterioration has resulted from the continued
and intensified acts of Israeli aggression and violence.
Israeli aerial and artillery bombardment has resulted in the
loss of civilian lives, the destruction of property and the
displacement of hundreds of thousands of people from their
towns and villages. As we learned from the representative
of Lebanon, the number of displaced persons has reached
almost 800,000. Those actions constitute a violation of
Lebanon’s sovereignty and national dignity. They are
creating an indescribable human tragedy which cannot be
allowed to pass.
Regrettably, this military escalation is taking place at
a time when Lebanon, which has been subjected to various
kinds of violence over the past two decades, had started to
experience a degree of calm and to rebuild what had been
destroyed by war and violence. It had begun to rebuild its
institutions and civilian facilities, and stability and security
were beginning to return.
Jordan is greatly concerned at this escalation, which is
taking place at a time when all the peoples and States of
the region are looking forward to the initiation of a new
stage of coexistence, security, peace, cooperation and
understanding, when problems will no longer be dealt with
through force and violence. The resort to violence runs
counter to the principles of the Charter and resolutions of
the United Nations. It runs counter to the most elementary
rules of civilized international political conduct. It runs
counter to the basis of the peace process laid down in the
Madrid Conference.
We oppose and condemn all use of military force and
violence in dealing with any political dispute, especially

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
when such force is used against innocent civilians and
civilian installations. It is evident that the use of force
results in economic destruction and the continued
exacerbation of social tragedy. Such an approach will
have a negative impact on the entire peace process and on
the peace and stability of the region.
The Security Council must have decided to meet
urgently because it realized how grave the situation had
become. We believe that words such as “deplores” and
“condemns” will not suffice. The situation is much graver
than that. The tragic situation has resulted from the
continuing Israeli military actions against Lebanon. The
Council must use the means available to it under the
Charter to deal with the crisis, bring the hostilities to an
end, and stop the situation from deteriorating. The loss of
life and the destruction of property must be stopped,
wherever they take place.
It is incumbent on the Council to make the necessary
guarantees to stop the cycle of action and reaction, and to
resolve the situation definitively. My delegation adds its
voice forcefully to all the appeals heard during the debate
calling for precisely that. We believe that this is the
optimum way, the right path. It is necessary to go back to
the negotiating table and continue peace talks on the basis
of decisions made at Madrid and of resolutions of the
Council, especially resolution 425 (1978), which calls for
a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The
implementation of that resolution would establish the
necessary security atmosphere along the Lebanese-Israeli
border. Ending the occupation and negotiating peace is
the only way to limit and stop the violence. Using
violence to react to violence, prompting further violence
and widening the circle of tragedy, will lead to nothing
but desperation and bitterness. It will return the whole
region to an atmosphere of conflict, the consequences of
which are unpredictable, and from which we thought we
had emerged for good.
Jordan shares the suffering of the Government and
people of our sister country Lebanon, and affirms that we
stand by their side. We call upon the Council to make
every effort and use all available means to resolve the
situation and help Lebanon shoulder its responsibility to
deal with the consequences of successive tragedies and in
rebuilding its country and institutions. We call upon the
Council to support and protect the sovereignty, territorial
integrity and dignity of Lebanon. The progress towards
peace in our region, which we have all worked and
strived for, and which we consider to constitute the
guarantee of stability and growth, will not be achieved

27

 Security Council
Fifty-first year

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996

except through dialogue and a bold, correct analysis of all
the manifestations of violence and tension. We must move
away from emotions, reprisals, collective punishment and
the unbridled use of force. History has taught us that these
methods are sterile and only deepen the wounds and widen
the gap between the peoples of the region. They will lead
only to the opposite result.

East for the second time in one day is indicative of the
clear difficulties being experienced by the peace process
in that region.

The President (interpretation from Spanish): I thank
the representative of Jordan for the kind words he
addressed to me.

For some time, in keeping with the position adopted
by the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, my country
has stated that the prerequisite for peace and security in
the region is strict respect for the territorial integrity,
sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within
its internationally recognized borders. The Heads of State
or Government made statements to that effect at the NonAligned summit in Cartagena, condemning the Israeli
occupation of the southern part of the territory of
Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, while also expressing
their support for efforts aimed at, inter alia, liberating
those territories.

The next speaker is the representative of Turkey. I
invite him to take a seat at the Council table and to make
his statement.
Mr. Tanç (Turkey): As we stated earlier today,
terrorism poses the greatest threat to security and stability
in the Middle East. Terrorists are trying to undermine the
hopes for peace and the prospects for prosperity. To
continue to work resolutely for peace requires common
understanding and cooperation among the countries of the
region. Combatting terrorism calls for common action.
It has been the consistent position of my Government
that the fight against terrorism is vitally important for the
success of the peace process. However, we also believe that
it should not inflict any harm on innocent civilians, who are
the real targets and victims of terrorist acts. If peace is to
triumph, the support of the people of the region must
continue. We are concerned that the recent developments
might lead to the loss of this support, and that this, in turn,
might cause a loss of momentum in the quest for peace.
After the attacks by the Israeli armed forces against
the positions of the terrorist organization, Hezbollah, in
Lebanon, the Israeli Ambassador to Turkey was summoned
by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our position regarding
the fight against terrorism and our concerns for the safety
of innocent civilians have once again been brought to the
attention of Israel.
As a neighbouring country, Turkey will continue to
follow developments closely, and it calls for the
implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The next
speaker is the representative of Colombia. I invite him to
take a seat at the Council table and to make his statement.
Mr. García (Colombia) (interpretation from Spanish):
That we should be discussing the situation in the Middle

28

We have been witnessing with concern the
deterioration of the situation in Lebanon as a result of the
attacks carried out by Israeli forces.

We have listened with great attention to the
statement of the Permanent Representative of Lebanon.
The attacks against Lebanon are not only a violation of
the norms of international law, taking an irreparable toll
in human life and material damage and causing an exodus
of innocent civilians; they also, in general, gravely
endanger the progress of the peace process in the Middle
East.
My delegation therefore reiterates that only the
prompt and unconditional implementation of Security
Council resolution 425 (1978) will create an environment
favourable to peace and international security in the
region. We call for the attacks to cease and for a climate
favourable to a peaceful, negotiated outcome to the crisis
to be created.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): The
next speaker is the representative of Pakistan. I invite him
to take a place at the Council table and to make his
statement.
Mr. Kamal (Pakistan): We are once again
assembled, for the second time today, to consider another
extremely grave situation in the Middle East. My
delegation, like all others, is deeply concerned over the
recent escalation of hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon
border and inside Lebanon, which has resulted in deaths
and injuries to innocent civilians. We find this extension
of the conflict reprehensible and deplorable and call for
all such acts to cease. The escalation of hostilities is

 Security Council
Fifty-first year
neither justifiable nor in keeping with the objective of
attaining a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the
Middle East. As already conveyed in detail by the
Permanent Representative of Lebanon, these aggressive
actions committed by the Israeli authorities are only
exacerbating tensions and resulting in the deaths of even
more innocent civilians. Pakistan deplores such objectives
and condemns the targeting and killing of civilian
populations.
Pakistan has consistently affirmed that, in order to
achieve a durable and comprehensive peace in the Middle
East, it is vital that successful progress be simultaneously
achieved in resolving the Israeli-Syrian and the IsraeliLebanese conflicts. We share the view that unless these
fundamental issues are also adequately addressed, peace
will continue to elude the region. Throughout the Middle

3653rd meeting
15 April 1996
East conflict, Pakistan has consistently endorsed the point
of view that Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338
(1973) and 425 (1978) continue to provide a viable and
just framework for the resolution of the problems of the
Middle East and Palestine. We firmly believe that during
the transitional period, Israel, as the occupying Power,
remains duty-bound, under the Fourth Geneva Convention
of 1949, to respect fully and implement the provisions of
the Convention and relevant Security Council resolutions
in the occupied Arab territories. Resolution 425 (1978),
particularly, called for the unconditional withdrawal of
Israeli forces from Lebanon and remains unimplemented
almost 20 years down the line.
The Government and the people of Pakistan are
deeply concerned over this latest escalation of hostilities
in Lebanon, which is seriously undermining the peace
process. It is our understanding that these military actions
are continuing, even as we speak here. We would
therefore urge the Security Council to remain actively
seized of this matter until a satisfactory resolution is
found to the crisis.
The President (interpretation from Spanish): There
are no further speakers.
I do not wish to end this debate without drawing a
brief conclusion from it this evening.
The conclusion I think I can reach as President of
the Council following this debate is that all who have
spoken want the fighting, violence and bloodshed to cease
once and for all and believe that the humanitarian needs
of the civilian population must be met and that the peace
process must continue to be supported.
The Council will remain seized of the matter.
The meeting rose at 9.50 p.m.

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