Attacks in Israel, Jerusalem – Letter from Israel

THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Letter dated 2 January 1975 from the Acting Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions of my Government and further to previous letters of this Mission, I have the honour to draw your attention again to the fact that the PLO terror organizations, which are permitted by the Government of Lebanon to maintain their virtually independent murder regime on Lebanese soil, are continuing their attacks from Lebanon against Israel.

On 30 December 1974, a murder squad of three PLO agents, who had infiltrated from Lebanon, encountered an Israeli patrol near the village of Zar'it at about 1930 hours local time.  In the ensuing exchange of fire the three terrorists were killed.  They had been armed with Kalatchnikoff assault rifles and their equipment was marked with the emblem of "Es Saiqa", the terror organization sponsored and supported by the Government of Syria and belonging to the PLO.  Also on 30 December 1974, at about 2000 hours local time, small arms and bazooka fire was directed from Lebanon against an Israeli patrol in the same area.

On 1 January 1975, at 1730 hours local time, small arms and bazooka fire was opened from Lebanon against an Israeli post in the Har Dov area.  Also on 1 January 1975 at about 2040 hours local time, bazooka and small arms fire was opened from Lebanon against an Israeli Defence Force patrol, north of Kibbutz Yiftakh.

On 20 December 1974, a bomb planted by PLO terrorists exploded in Ben-Yehuda Street in Jerusalem injuring 12 people, two of whom are in serious condition.

On 22 December 1974, a grenade was thrown near the St. Lazarus Church in the vicinity of Jerusalem at a bus carrying foreign pilgrims on a vist to the holy Places.  A l6 year old girl who was on the bus was badly injured in the explosion of the grenade and her right leg had to be amputated.

Announcements claiming "credit" for these outrages were made by the PLO in Beirut.  As is well known, it is in Beirut that the headquarters and other bases of the murder organizations are located and it is in Beirut that these terror attacks are being planned and the orders to carry them out are being issued.

As on previous occasions, additional evidence is forthcoming from the Lebanese press itself confirming the existence of Palestinian murder bases in Lebanon, including bases in the immediate proximity of the Lebanon-Israel border, as well as concerning the movements of the gangs located there.  So, in accordance with reports published on 20 December 197U in the Beirut newspapers El Bairak and El Hayat, some of the Palestinian murder gangs had recently moved from the Hasbayah area, near the Lebanese-Israel border, where they had been located.

Also on 20 December 1974, El Hayat reported from Beirut that a delegation of residents from Nabatiyeh had asked the Lebanese Prime Minister to arrange for the transfer of the offices of the terrorists from the centre of Nabatiyeh and especially those which were located near the school, the residential quarters and the business centres.

In these circumstances, Israel is taking all appropriate action to ensure the safety of its citizens, residents and visitors from Palestinian murder attacks originating from Lebanese territory.

I have the honour to request that this letter be circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 109, and of the Security Council.

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75-00056