Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 2 August 1988 from the Permanent Representative of

Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions from my Government and further to my previous letters, I have the honour to inform you that on 1 August 1988 Israel expelled eight more inhabitants of the occupied Palestinian territories – six from the West Bank and two from the Gaza Strip.  They were taken to Lebanese territory in two civilian vehicles via the Zimrayya pass and through the so-called "security zone", and were set down at the first Lebanese army post at Marj Azzouhour, in the western Bakaa.

The Lebanese Government  considers that the expulsions to Lebanese territory carried out by Israel, which thus far have involved 28 Palestinians, are unacceptable and vigorously condemns them as a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and as an exploitation of a sector of Lebanese territory which Israel seized by force and has thus far refused to evacuate, despite the resolutions of the Security Council, particularly resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978) and subsequent relevant resolutions.

Furthermore, these expulsions are inherently incompatible with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international law and international conventions and agreements, especially the fourth Geneva Convention.  The reflect the repressive policy practised by Israel and show what little importance Israel attaches to the resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council resolution 607 (1988), which calls upon Israel to refrain from deporting Palestinian civilians from the occupied territories and strongly requests it to abide by its obligations arising from the fourth Geneva Convention.

I should be grateful if you would have the text of this letter distributed as an official document of the General Assembly, under item 40 of the provisional agenda, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Rachid FAKHOURY

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

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