The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon today denied media reports claiming that the Israeli military forces recently carried out an incursion over the Blue Line separating the two countries. “There was no violation of the Blue Line,” UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Commander Major-General Alain Pellegrini said in a statement. “Members of the Israel Defence Forces were carrying out regular maintenance work on the technical fence near the village of Ayta Chaab. Throughout their maintenance work, they remained south of the Blue Line,” he added. Read more about UN denies media reports of Israeli incursion
Members of the diplomatic ‘Quartet’ on the Middle East - the United Nations, the United States, the Russian Federation and the European Union (EU) - today endorsed the continuation of a stop-gap measure for providing aid directly to the Palestinian people. In a statement, the Quartet backed the continuation for three months of the Temporary International Mechanism, the means devised by the EU and the World Bank to provide aid directly to the Palestinian people by bypassing the Hamas-led Government, which has been isolated internationally because it has not renounced violence and does not recognize Israel. Read more about UN and other members of diplomatic 'Quartet' back continued aid to Palestinians
A United Nations forum on Palestinian rights meeting in Malaysia has adopted a Declaration decrying recent deaths in the Middle East and calling for a new system to protect civilians there. Convened under the auspices of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the meeting adopted the Kuala Lumpur Declaration, which urged the UN to establish in cooperation with the parties a general mechanism for the protection of civilians on the ground. It also called upon the international community, including the members of the Quartet — made up of the UN, United States, Russia and the European Union — to establish a credible and effective third-party monitoring mechanism. Read more about UN forum on Palestinian rights adopts declaration urging new system to protect civilians
The General Assembly has adopted several resolutions criticizing Israeli actions in the occupied Palestinian territory, in particular by reiterating its call for a complete halt to all settlement activity and calling on the Government to ensure the safety of United Nations staff providing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians. These resolutions were among two dozen adopted yesterday, along with two draft decisions, covering a wide range of issues, including decolonization, UN information policy, the peaceful use of outer space and others, which were recommended for action by the Assembly’s Special Political and Decolonization (Fourth) Committee. Read more about General Assembly adopts resolutions criticizing Israeli actions against Palestinians
The enhanced United Nations peacekeeping force sent to Lebanon this summer to monitor the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hizbollah now totals surpasses 11,000 troops from 23 countries, less than 4,000 below its mandated maximum strength. The current total of 11,018 consists of 9,124 ground troops and 1,747 naval personnel entrusted with stopping arms smuggling off the coast, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported today. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended 34 days of fighting in August, strengthened UNIFIL to a maximum of 15,000 troops and mandated a complete Israeli withdrawal, together with Lebanese army deployment in southern Lebanon. Read more about UN peacekeeping force tops 11,000
Welcoming the progress so far in implementing and monitoring the cessation of hostilities in southern Lebanon, the Security Council today voiced concern at reports of illegal movements of arms into the country, Israeli violations of Lebanese air space and the continuing presence of “very high numbers of unexploded ordnance” in the affected area. In a presidential statement, the 15-member Council also reiterated its “full support for the legitimate and democratically-elected Government of Lebanon,” urged all parties to pay “full respect for the democratic institutions of the country in conformity with the constitution” and condemned any attempt to destabilize the State. Read more about Noting progress in Lebanon, Security Council warns of threats and challenges
Israel’s lack of cooperation has prevented a fact-finding mission from the United Nations Human Rights Council from visiting Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, where an Israeli attack last month killed 19 Palestinian civilians, the head of the team, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu, said today. “This is a time in our history that neither allows for indifference to the plight of those suffering, nor a refusal to search for a solution to the present crisis in the region,” Mr. Tutu told reporters in Geneva, describing Israel’s action as “very distressing.” Read more about Lack of Israeli cooperation prevents UN fact-finding mission to Beit Hanoun
Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called on international donors to make up “the current, worrying shortfall” in the budget of the United Nations agency that tends to the needs of millions of Palestinian refugees, with an operational deficit of over $100 million already looming. “Such efforts merit strong support from the international community,” he said in a message delivered by UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Kevin Kennedy to the second annual meeting of UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) host authorities and donor governments in Amman, Jordan. Read more about Annan calls on donors to make up for shortfall in UN funds for Palestinian refugees
Israel’s use of weapons such as cluster bombs during this summer’s war with Hizbollah in Lebanon was a flagrant violation of the right to life and property, excessive, not justified by military necessity and went beyond the arguments of proportionality, according to a report mandated by the Human Rights Council. Israel violated obligations of international and humanitarian law and it disregarded its international and individual responsibility, according to the report of the High-Level Commission of Inquiry set up by the Council in August to probe “systematic targeting and killings of civilians by Israel,” which was presented to the 47-member body in Geneva on Friday. Read more about UN Rights Council report condemns flagrant Israeli violations in summer war
An independent United Nations expert on safeguarding human rights while fighting terrorism is to visit Israel at the invitation of its Government, possibly during the first half of next year. “The State of Israel has legitimate national security concerns and is often confronted with violent attacks, including against civilians. Hence, I fully understand that it must be able to respond to terrorist acts. However, the Government’s response, including the enactment and implementation of legislation, and actual practices, must be in conformity with international law, in particular humanitarian and human rights law,” said Martin Scheinin. Read more about UN expert: Israel's security measures not in compliance with international law
