Mideast situation/attack – Letter from Israel

Letter dated 8 May 1986 from the Chargé d'affairs a.i. of the

Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations

addressed to the Secretary-General

The PLO's campaign of terror against the civilian population of Israel continues unabated. I would like to direct your attention to the following recent incidents.

1. On 31 March 1986, three terrorists, recruited by the Fatah wing of the PLO were captured by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the security zone near the village of Meiss ej-Jebel. The terrorists were planning to infiltrate Israel and attack Kibbutz Manara in northern Israel. In an interview on Israel television, one of the terrorists, Ahmed Hasnui al-Ali, admitted that their instructions were to attack Kibbutz Manara, take civilian hostages and inflict casualties. He further admitted that he and the other captured terrorists had been trained and armed at the Mieh-Mieh camp near Sidon in Lebanon.

2. On 22 April 1986, in a broadcast from Baghdad, the "Voice of the PLO" claimed responsibility for a Katyusha rocket attack on Zarit and Sasa, two civilian settlements in northern Israel. The PLO broadcast boasted about the "success" of the operation claiming that the attack inflicted heavy material damage and large numbers of casualties.

This assertion is in the long-standing tradition of PLO fabrication about its terrorist activity. Although Katyusha rockets were launched, they fortunately never reached any target. The PLO announcement, however, reflects the will and intent of the PLO to attack civilian targets.

3. On 30 April 1966, two terrorists attempting to infiltrate Israel from the eastern sector of the security zone were apprehended and killed while trying to escape. Similarly, on 4 May 1986, IDF units identified a group of terrorists moving through the eastern sector of the security zone and opened fire killing two of the terrorists. While fleeing, the terrorists left behind large numbers of Kalishnakov rifles and other light weapons, grenades and explosive devices.

These recent terrorist incidents demonstrate the indiscriminate manner in which the PLO, by its own admission, targets innocent civilians for its acts of terrorism. They further demonstrate that preventing PLO terrorism requires forces explicitly committed to and organized for the defence of the areas against terrorism.

For its part, the Government of Israel will continue to take appropriate measures to protect and safeguard its citizens.

I have the honour to request that this letter be circulated as an official document of the General Assembly under item 37 of the preliminary list, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Johanan BEIN

Ambassador

Chargé d'affairs a.i.

—–

__________________

*A/41/50/Rev.1.