Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Israel

Letter dated 15 August 2000 from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

I wish to recall our letters addressed to you dated 6 July 2000 (A/54/936-S/2000/661), 13 July 2000 (A/54/939-S/2000/689) and 4 August 2000 (A/54/957-S/2000/769), calling attention to the continuing Lebanese violations along the Line of Withdrawal. At present, the area of the Phatma Gate and several other areas continue to host daily barrages of boulders, exploding devices and other such articles from the Lebanese side, targeting Israelis across the border. To date, eight Israelis have been wounded by such attacks and the area remains tense, with the threat of escalation of the already delicate situation along the border. It should be emphasized that the Israeli soldiers along the Line have exercised maximum restraint in this highly charged atmosphere.

These hostile acts constitute an ongoing violation of Security Council resolution 425 (1978), essential elements of which are the restoration of international peace and security and the return of the effective authority of the Government of Lebanon in the area. In addition, in its resolution 1310 (2000), the Council calls for the deployment of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the area and for the Government of Lebanon to: “ensure the return of its effective authority and presence in the south, and in particular to proceed with a significant deployment of the Lebanese armed forces as soon as possible”, and to “ensure a calm environment throughout the south” (paras. 6 and 7). Clearly, this must include taking full control over the area in proximity to the border with Israel, including the Phatma Gate, and preventing — rather than actively permitting and encouraging — the acts of disorder and violence vis-à-vis the Israeli side of the border.

It is a matter of grave concern that to date, no deployment of armed forces by any party has taken place in the area of the Phatma Gate, the most sensitive of border points between Israel and Lebanon, or , for that matter, in a few other tense points along the border. Should these daily provocations and acts of violence continue, there is a real danger of serious deterioration in the area, which could well lead to bloodshed — an outcome that all sides must act to prevent.

We trust that, in the light of this situation, you and the Security Council will take the necessary measures to ensure that Council resolutions 425 (1978), 426 (1978) and 1310 (2000) are implemented in their entirety. The Government of Lebanon should, in this context, be called upon to carry out its responsibility to end the violations from its territory, deploy its armed forces and restore its effective authority and control throughout the area, including the Phatma Gate.

I should be grateful if you would have the text of this letter circulated as a document of the Security Council.