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U.N. Security Council: Statement Condemns Hezbollah Attack on Israeli Border

(June 30, 2005)

Corporal Uzi Peretz was killed, and three other Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded June 29, 2005, when Hezbollah fired mortar shells at the Har Dov area, along the Israel-Lebanon border. Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Dan Gillerman submitted a complaint to the Security Council regarding the escalating violence on the northern border and, the following day, the Council unanimously approved a statement condemning Hezbollah for its attack on Israel. The statement called on the Lebanese government to implement its authority in the south of the country in the area bordering Israel and throughout the boundaries of the state.

A special press release by the council’s president reflects the spirit of its members’ opinions, the result of agreements made in informal meetings held by the parties. In the range of responses utilized by the council, a press release is one level before a presidential declaration, which is considered more official. The message was conveyed 24 hours after Israel sent a letter of protest to the president regarding incidents in the Har Dov area along the Lebanese border.

Anne Patterson, the acting U.S. ambassador, criticized the statement for not specifically mentioning the September resolution 1559 and for not saying that Hezbollah started the conflict. “It did not recognize the fault of Hezbollah in attacking,” she said. “The Lebanese armed forces need to deploy into southern Lebanon as quickly as possible and take control of their own territory.”

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON BLUE LINE INCIDENTS

Following is the press statement delivered today by Council President Jean-Marc de La Sabliere (France):

The members of the Security Council received a briefing from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations on the last incidents along the Blue Line.

They took note with interest of the statement issued by the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for southern Lebanon.

The members of the Security Council reiterate their call on the Government of Lebanon to extend its control over all of its territory, including through the deployment of Lebanese armed forces, to exert its monopoly on the use of force and to put an end to all attacks emanating from its territory.

In this context, they expressed serious concerns at yesterday's attack and the subsequent exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces yesterday and today. Members of the Security Council urged all parties to fully respect the Blue Line, to refrain from violation of it and to exercise restraint.


Sources: Haaretz, (July 1, 2005); UN, (June 30, 2005)