Palestine question/Deportations – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 12 April 1988 from the Permanent Representative of

Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions from my Government, I have the honour to inform you of the following:

The Israeli occupation authorities in the Palestinian territories have continued to implement the policy of deporting Palestinian citizens, thereby violating the fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 (art. 49) and international laws and custom. By deporting Palestinian citizens to Lebanon they are also violating the Charter of the United Nations and defying Security Council resolution 608 (1988) of 14 January 1988.

On 11 April 1988, the Israeli occupation authorities transported eight Palestinians by helicopter from the occupied Palestinian territories to the so-called "security zone" which Israel is occupying inside Lebanese territory. They then forced them to get into two taxis and head out of this area, so that, at 1630 hours (local time), they arrived at the town of Rachaya in southern Lebanon.

On 13 January 1988, Israel deported four Palestinians to Lebanese territory. At the meeting of the Security Council held on 14 January 1988 (document S/PV.2781), Lebanon, through its Permanent Representative, condemned the principle of deportation and Israel's exploitation of its occupation of a portion of Lebanese territory which it termed the "security zone" and of the situation in the south resulting from that occupation for the purpose of deporting those persons to Lebanese territory. Lebanon made clear its position on such actions in a letter (No. 7) addressed to you on 13 January 1988.

The Lebanese Government vehemently condemns Israel's resort to deportation operations and its violation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations that protect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Member States and warns that the continued implementation by Israel, the occupying State, of such inhumane practices serves to aggravate the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and in southern Lebanon and presents a threat to international peace and security in the Middle East region.

I request you to have this letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under item 40 of the preliminary list, and of the Security Council.

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* A/43/50.