Violations across the Blue Line – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 22 January 2004 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

  On instructions from my Government, I am transmitting to you a summary of security-related events in southern Lebanon.

  At 1415 hours on 15 January 2004, aircraft of the Israeli air force carried out medium-altitude flights over the `Alma al-Sha`b guardhouse.

  At 1510 hours on the same day, in the vicinity of `Ayta al-Sha`b, Ruweisat al-Namriyyá district, Israeli forces fired a number of rounds of machine gun fire at Muhammad Hassan Surur, a 22-year-old Lebanese national, and Fadl Abbas Jawad, a 20-year-old Lebanese national. They were not hit.

  At 2300 hours on 18 January 2004, in the Ràs Naqurah district, an Israeli military vessel opened fire on a Lebanese fishing boat in Lebanese territorial waters. No casualties were reported.

  These serious violations are part of a long series of deliberate and provocative breaches by Israel of Lebanese airspace, waters and land, and are contrary to the principles of international law, legitimate international decisions and the repeated appeals by the Secretary-General for an end to such actions.

  In the light of those breaches, the worsening tension and the ever more serious threats by Israel against Lebanon, its territory and its population, Lebanon urges the Security Council to deter and prevent Israel from committing such violations and issuing such threats, which endanger the peace and security of both States. Israel bears full responsibility for those violations and threats, and for any consequences that might ensue.

  The Permanent Mission of Lebanon draws the attention of the Secretary-General to the gravity of these acts of aggression and to the consequences that may ensue, and requests him to have the text of this complaint circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 37, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Sami Kronfol
Ambassador
Permanent Representative

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