Middle East situation/Lebanon/Attacks – Letter from PLO Chairman

Letter dated 16 June 1982 from the Permanent Representative of

Oman to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

In my capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of June 1982, I have the honour to enclose herewith a letter dated 16 June 1982 addressed to you by Mr. Yasir Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Palestinian Revolution.

I should be grateful if this letter is circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under items 31 and 34 of the preliminary list, and of the Security

Council.

(Signed) Mahmoud ABOUL-NASR

Ambassador

Permanent Representative of Oman

to the United Nations

ANNEX

Letter dated 16 June 1982 from Mr. Yasir Arafat

to the Secretary-general

Greetings

From Beirut, the city beleaguered by the neo-fascists, under bombardment from the air, sea and land, a hell imposed on children, women and civilians.

From Beirut I send to you this message so that the entire world will know about this barbarous conspiracy against the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples, and the tragedy facing the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples as a result of the fascist military and bloody Israeli invasion, which has so far caused devastation in Lebanese towns and villages and Palestinian refugee camps. This American-Israeli military mission continues before the world’s eyes.

It is important that the world should know, through you and through your responsibility and position, the tragedy which is taking place on the Lebanese soil.

The Israeli invasion, supported by the total and unlimited American military, political, diplomatic and financial backing, resulted so far in extensive destruction of human life and property. Preliminary reports on loss of Palestinian and Lebanese civilian life so far are as follows:

This is in addition to the total demolition of 14 Palestinian refugee camps, three major Lebanese cities – Tyre, Sidon and Nabatieh – and extensive destruction to dozens of Lebanese towns and villages.

Social and economic institutions and establishments have also been destroyed, including hospitals, schools, water and power stations.

What is happening in Beirut, which has been continually shelled by land, air and sea (parts of the city have been occupied, the rest is under siege), exposes the ugly and criminal nature of this barbaric military aggression carried on by Israeli fascist invaders.

I demand the United Nations to put an end to this criminal fascist invasion and to ensure the total and unconditional withdrawal of the Israeli military forces in accordance with Security Council Resolution 509.

We ask the United Nations to send immediately a United Nations Commission on the highest level to investigate those crimes which Israeli military forces have committed and continue to commit so that the world can realize the ugly picture of what is actually taking place in Lebanon against the Palestinian and Lebanese people.

We would like to call attention to the fact that in spite of the twice declared Israeli cease fire, its military attacks are continuing and that its military forces continue to advance on Lebanese territories with the purpose of completing its encirclement of Beirut and its occupation of the Lebanese Presidential Palace.

I request that my letter be distributed to members of the Security Council and the United Nations.

(Signed) Yasir ARAFAT

Chairman of the Executive Committee

Commander-in-chief of the

Armed Forces of the Revolution