S/PV.2217 Security Council

In accordance with the decisions taken at previous meetings [2222th to 2225th meetings], I invite the representative of Lebanon to take a place at the Council table, and I invite the representatives of Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, the Netherlands, Nigeria, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to take the places reserved for them at the side of the Council chamber. At the invitation of the President, Mr. TuCni (Lebanon) took a place at the Council table and Mr. Mulloy (Ireland), Mr. Blum (Israel), Mr. La Rocca (Italy), Mr. Nuseibeh (Jordan), Mr. Scheltema (Netherlands), Mr. Clark (Nigeria), Mr. Mansouri (Syrian Arab At the invitation of the President, Mr. Vunibobo (Fiji) and Mr. Allagany (Saudi Arabia) took the places reserved for them at the side of the Council chamber.

I should like to draw the attention of Council members to documents Sl138881Add.2 and 3, which contain the texts of two addenda to the special report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The members of the Council have before them document S/13897, which contains the text of a draft resolution sponsored by Tunisia. 4. I call upon Mr. Brian Urquhart , Under-Secretary- General for Special Political Affairs, who will make a statement in accordance with rule 22 of the provisional rules of procedure.

Before giving the Council a brief account of today’s tragic events, I think it necessary briefly to recall the sequence of events leading up to this tragedy. These events have been reported to the Council in some detail in previous reports. 6. On 6 April, the de facto forces moved armoured vehicles into At-Tiri in the Irish sector of UNIFIL and tired mortars and heavy machine guns at the Irish contingent. 7. On 7 April, the fire on the Irish contingent continued intensely, and one Irish soldier was wounded and later died. Two other Irish soldiers were wounded at the same time. On that occasion, the Irish con- 8. On 8 April, the de facto forces threatened to kill those nine Irish soldiers unless the Irish contingent withdrew from its positions at At-Tiri. After intensive efforts, however, those hostages were released at nightfall. 9. On 10 April, the defucto forces fired in the same area at a vehicle carrying the Deputy Force Commander, Brigadier-General Nilsen of Norway, and others. 10. On 12 April, there was further firing by the de facto forces at At-Tiri, in which one Fijian soldier was killed. The Irish troops in At-Tiri returned the fire, and in that exchange one militia soldier was killed and two wounded. Again, threats of reprisals were made by Major Haddad. On that same day, the de facto forces took four Irish soldiers hostage from a post in the enclave. As members of the Council will recall, on that same day also UNIFIL headquarters was shelled extensively and very widespread damage was caused. 11. On 13 April, the de facto forces demanded that the villagers of At-Tiri pay 40,000 Lebanese pounds, apparently as compensation for the soldier who had been killed, or that they deliver the bodies of two Irish soldiers, and this demand was repeated in various forms later on. 12. The situation remained tense on 14 and 15 April, and on 17 April there was an attack on OP Hin, and the other observation posts which are on the border were also under siege. After very intensive efforts it was finally arranged that these observation posts should be relieved and resupplied. At OP Ras, however, the Irish soldiers who had been there remained until the area could be checked for mines. 13. That brings me to today, when, as the Council will see in the reports we issued this morning in documents W388WAdd.2 and 3, three Irish soldiers were stopped by the de facto forces on their way to OP Ras. They were separated from the others with them; one was taken to an adjoining field and shot in the abdomen and legs. He was subsequently evacuated to the Norwegian hospital in Naqoura, where he was operated on. The other two soldiers were taken captive and led away. Every effort was then made to negotiate their release. In a report received from Naqoura in the middle of the morning, New York time, we were informed that those two soldiers were being held. by the de facto forces. Brigadier-General Levran of the Israel Defence Forces assured our people in Naqoura of their well-being at that time and indicated that all efforts were being made to secure their release. At about 12.30 p.m., New York time, Lieutenant-Colonel Gal of the Israel Defence 14. This murder of unarmed soldiers can only be described as a killing in cold blood, following on repeated threats by the de facto forces against the lives of members of UNIFIL, and especially those of the Irish contingent.

As a result of consultations held among the members of the Council, I have been authorized, as President of the Security Council, to make the following statement, which has been agreed upon by all the members of the Council: “I am authorized by the Security Council to make the following statement, on behalf of its members, pending action on the resolution which the Security Council is considering on the over-all situation in Lebanon and on the acts of hostility against Lebanon, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization [UNTSO J. “The members of the Security Council are shocked and outraged at the report that the Council has received on the attacks on the Force and the cold-blooded murder of peace-keeping soldiers by the de facto forces. “This unprecedented, barbaric act against a peacekeeping force is a direct challenge to and defiance of the authority of the Security Council and to the mission of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security. “The Security Council strongly condemns all those who share in the responsibility for this outrageous act. The Council reaffirms its intention to take such determined action as the situation calls for to enable the Force to take immediate and total control of its entire area of operation up to the internationally recognized boundaries. “The Council extends its deep-felt condolences to the Government of Ireland and the families of the victims. “The Council also commends the valiant action of the commanders and soldiers of the Force, and the courage of the United Nations observers under the most adverse circumstances.” 16. The first speaker is the representative of Ireland. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement.

I note with appreciation the statement that you, Mr. President, have just made on behalf of the Council. 19. I must express to the Council the grief of the Government and the people of Ireland. I feel I must also say, and I speak with due restraint, that those who support the de facto forces of Major Haddad must now reflect most seriously on the responsibility they bear for the chain of events which led to the murder of unarmed Irish soldiers serving the cause of peace with the United Nations.

The next speaker is the representative of Lebanon, on whom I now call.

When this morning my delegation pressed for a Council meeting, we were not aware-we were miles away from thinking-that this day would go down as probably the most sorrowful and tragic in the history of peace-keeping. I have no words to describe what has happened. However, the Council, in its statement which you, Mr. President, have just read out, is, I think, expressing the feelings of all of us. 22. In my country, Lebanon, we tend to look at what has happened with both great sorrow and great anger: great sorrow because we very deeply regret and feel in our blood and flesh that soldiers who have come to our country to prevent people from being killed should themselves be the victims of cold-blooded murder; great anger because, like other Member States, particularly members of this Council, we had been building high hopes on the mission of the peacekeeping force and the authority of the Council. We want the Council to know-and here I speak on behalf of my country, my President, my Government and my people-that the tragic events that happened today can only serve to consolidate our faith in the capacity of the Council to react with strength and vigour and also to reflect the feelings of the world conscience. We think that what we are -performing this evening must be shrouded in great solemnity, and, therefore, while addressing my thanks to the Council and my most heartfelt condolences to the Irish Government, the Force and the families of the victims, I want to say that I am waiving at present any further questions that I had to put before the Council concerning the draft resolution and also the barbarous attack that took place this morning against yet another village in my country.

We are shocked and outraged over the developments just reported to us by the Under-Secretary-General. Such a cold-blooded murder of men serving the United Nations in the cause of peace demands determined concrete action by the Council. 25. On behalf of the Norwegian Government, I must also appeal strongly to Israel to stop immediately and totally all support for the so-called de facto forces of Major Haddad. 26. The present situation is totally unacceptable and calls for concrete action from the entire world community. The whole credibility of the United Nations in the vital area of peace-keeping is at stake.

As my delegation already indicated in its statement on 14 April [2213th meeting], my country is extremely concerned over the rapid deterioration in the situation in south Lebanon because of the inadmissible behaviour of the de facto forces towards UNIFIL and the repeated military interventions by Israel in this area. The very serious events of recent hours have but confirmed my delegation’s opinion on this matter and explain the full support given by my delegation, along with all the members of the Council, to the statement which you, Mr. President, have just made. 28. The facts presented to us this evening by the Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs can only give rise to indignation and contempt. They are unprecedented in the history of peace-keeping forces. It is intolerable for uncontrolled elements directly to engage UNIFIL and execute in cold blood Irish soldiers who had made themselves available in the service of peace. 29. My delegation wishes to say to the Irish authorities that it is deeply moved at the cowardly assassination of two of their soldiers. We extend our deepest sympathy to them and to the families of the victims. 30. The tragic events that have just occurred once again show how absolutely indispensable it is for all parties concerned, in particular Israel, to co-operate fully and completely with UNIFIL in the exercise of its mandate. UNIFIL must be able to operate throughout the whole of its area of operation, which extends to the Israeli-Lebanese border. 31. The deterioration of the situation in Lebanon must elicit a firm reaction from the Council. It is the Council which decided on the creation of UNIFIL and approved the mandate of that Force. It is urgent that the present deterioration of the situation be reversed. The credibility of the Council and of .the Organization is involved here. 32. As the French delegation emphasized on 14 April, the French Government has always criticized and 33. As a contributor to UNIFIL, my country believes that it must be able to use force whenever it deems necessary in order strictly to carry out the mandate given to it by the Council. Such action would be in keeping with the provisions of the report that established the Force, which specify that self-defence would include “resistance to attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties” [S112611 of 19 March 1978, para. 4 (d)]. 34. In conclusion, my delegation also wishes to pay a tribute to the courage and discipline that the soldiers and officers of the Force and the observers of UNTSO have shown under such circumstances. Finally, we congratulate the Secretary-General and his colleagues for the intense efforts they have made to reduce the tension.

The next speaker is the representative of the Netherlands. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement.

My delegation has the sad duty of speaking once again in this debate in order to present our condolences to the Government of Ireland. We have just learned, and it has now been confirmed by the Under-Secretary- General, Mr. Urquhart, that two members of the Irish contingent have been killed in cold blood by the de facto forces of Major Haddad and that one Irish soldier has been wounded. The summary execution of members of a peace-keeping force of the United Nations is a most appalling act which is virtually without precedent in history. Those who have perpetrated this crime must be held accountable. The activities of the so-called Christian militia itself must be condemned in the strongest terms. 37. To this statement, I should like to add that our deep sympathy is extended to the Government of Ireland and, of course, to the relatives of the victims. 38. Earlier in this debate my delegation impressed upon Israel the absolute necessity of calling a halt to Haddad’s irresponsible acts. The recent tragic events underscore the urgency of this call, which has also been made by other speakers in the debate. 39. I wish to make this point once again. My Govemment urges Israel to desist from further co-operation with the de facto forces. UNIFIL must be allowed, as a matter of urgency, to extend its control over the whole area of operation in southern Lebanon. Unless the Israeli Government agrees to assume its responsibility in this regard, the execution of UNIFIL’s mandate will become, we fear, an unattainable objective.

The next speaker is the representative of Italy, whom I invite to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement.

My delegation has asked to speak a second time in this debate to express the outrage of my Government at the events which took place in southern Lebanon earlier today. The coldblooded murder of two members of the Irish battalion serving with UNIFIL and the wounding of a third by the de facto forces of Major Haddad are not only barbarous and utterly condemnable acts but acts that show that the escalation of violence by those irresponsible elements has reached a level which cannot be further tolerated. While expressing our deep condolences to the Government of Ireland and to the families of the victims, we urge this Council to take the strong action that those events require, 43. We also reiterate our request to the Government of Israel immediately to discontinue its support of the de facto forces and actively to co-operate in disbanding them. The only effective means of preventing the recurrence of events like those which are currently taking place in southern Lebanon is to create the conditions for the deployment of UNIFIL in all its area of operation. We therefore urge the Government of Israel to give its full co-operation to the achievement of this goal.

Having listened to the reports of the Secretary-General on the situation in Lebanon and the statements made by the representative of Lebanon, and having taken note of the recent events, the Chinese delegation is seriously concerned at the development of the situation in Lebanon. 45, Since the evening of 8 April, the Israeli authorities have once again openly sent their troops to invade southern Lebanon and incite the Lebanese secessionist forces to create incidents and provoke conflicts. As a result, great losses in lives and property have been inflicted on the Lebanese people and the personnel of UNIFIL has suffered distressing casualties. All this has led to a serious deterioration of the situation in southern Lebanon. These new Israeli acts of aggression have not only violated the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon but have also gravely endangered peace in the Middle East and in the whole world. 46. What is more serious is that at the time of the .Council’s deliberation on Israel’s aggression against Lebanon, the Israeli authorities once again launched an armed incursion into Lebanon on the evening of 17 April, brutally killing innocent local inhabitants. 47. Over a long period, the Israeli authorities have always attempted to divide Lebanon and annihilate the Palestinian people, who are waging a struggle for national liberation. In southern Lebanon, they have instigated secessionist forces to set up a separatist rule to obstruct the Lebanese Government in the exercise of its sovereignty. Although the United Nations and the Security Council have repeatedly adopted resolutions condemning Israel’s acts of aggression and calling upon it to stop its aggression against Lebanon, the Israeli authorities have always turned a deaf ear to all this and have become even more intransigent in pursuing their policies of aggression and expansion. The recent incursions into Lebanon have further revealed the reactionary stand of the Israeli authorities and their persistent hostility to the Palestinian and Arab peoples; these incursious have also shown that the Israelis are pursuing their policies of aggression and expansion and have revealed their arrogant defiance of the United Nations and the Security Council. These new crimes committed by the Israeli authorities against the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples cannot but arouse strong condemnation and opposition from ail justice-upholding and peaceloving countries and peoples and from ail fair-minded pubIic opinion. 51. The unprecedented challenge which this crinie 48. The Chinese Government and people strongly condemn Israel’s criminal acts of aggression against Lebanon and they firmly support the Lebanese Government and people in their just struggle to restore the exercise of their State sovereignty in southern Lebanon and to defend their independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We firmly support the Palestinian and Arab peoples in their just struggle to regain their national rights and recover their lost territories. In our view, the Council should uphold justice, defend the purposes and principles of the Charter and, in addition to sternly condemning Israel’s acts of aggression, should take practical and effective measures to stop its incursions into Lebanon and should call upon Israel immediately to withdraw all its aggressor troops from Lebanon. The Council should reaffirm that the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon should be scrupulously respected and should tolerate no violation. The Council should firmly support the just struggle of the Lebanese and other Arab peoples against aggression and the just struggle of the Palestinian people to regain their national rights. 49. Mr. vanden HEUVEL (United States of America): The mindless horror of executing innocent men serving the cause of peace is as dark and despicable an act as any that can be imagined on the world

The serious news received today from southern Lebanon, and which has just been confirmed, prompts us to intervene to convey to the Government of Ireland and to the families of the victims our heartfelt condolences in the bereavement which has been so brutally and irresponsibly inflicted upon the contingent so generously made available by that country to the peace-keeping Force in the region. So that peace should not become a subject of derision in southern Lebanon and equally so that the work being done by UNIFIL should not be in vain or doomed to failure, the Council owes it to itself most categorically to condemn the attack on the Irish contingent and all those responsible for it; and it must ensure that UNIFIL can henceforward fully carry out its mandate in the conditions required by its terms of reference. represents, not only to the Force but to the whole international community which the Force embodies, requires us to adopt an unequivocal position whose solemn import can fully be understood, with all its consequences. 52. Our feelings at this moment are not only of indignation and-bitterness but also of determin&ion --determination to prevent a recurrence of such intolerable incidents as those which gave rise to this morning’s tragic news, which was the culmination of a long process of deterioration in a situation in. the face of which the Council cannot fail to pronounce itself with a severity commensurate with the facts. 53. Mr. TROYANOVSKY (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (interpretation from Russian). Today we have learned of new manifestations of Israel’s aggressive policy towards Lebanon. The Council was informed of a regular armed attack by the Haddad separatists, who are in the service of Israel, against the United Nations forces in Lebanon. This provocation by the separatists led to the outrageous murder of two Irish soldiers and to the serious wounding of a third.. We wish to emphasize the ctiminal nature of these acts and to transmit through the delegation of Ireland to those concerned our sympathies over the death of the two soldiers. 55. All these acts of provocation by Israel, whether carried out directly or by surrogates, are a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Lebanon and of the fundamental principles of the Charter, which Israel pledged to respect when it joined the Organization. 56. There is special indignation at the fact that all this is taking place precisely at a time when the Council is considering the question of Israel’s aggressive acts against Lebanon and that of the provocative acts carried out by Israel, through the separatists, against the United Nations forces. It is clear that those who determine Israel’s policies feel that they can act with complete impunity because of the position of some Western States members of the Council which will not ahow the Council to adopt any effective measures against Israeli aggression. 57. The criminal acts carried out today in Lebanon once more confirm the rightness of those who have urged, and are urging, the Council not only decidedly to condemn the undisguised aggression of Israel against Lebanon but also to adopt the most effective measures to end that aggression. 58. The current aggressive onslaughts by Israel and by Haddad’s separatists with the support of Israel confirm the obvious fact that right now words are not enough: specific and decisive actions are necessary so that the decisions of the Council on the question of the situation in southern Lebanon should not remain mere empty sound, but should finally be implemented.

Barely 48 hours ago, Niger expressed here its condemnation of the events which had taken place over the last week on Lebanese territory and which involved attacks on certain contingents of UNIFIL by the so-called &facto forces acting in conjunction with Israeli forces of aggression. Today, our chagrin and concern are at their height, for we have learnt that, at the very moment when the Council is at work trying to allay the world’s fears at the events in Lebanon, these very forces, acting in defiance or in contempt of the Council and the international community, are increasing their pressure in the region and are continuing grossly and barbarously to attack UNIFIL soldiers, whose situation grows graver daily. This is proved by the murder, only today, of two Irish soldiers, callously killed on their peace-keeping mission by the defucto forces seeking thus to show that they were rebelling against world peace. 60. Niger deeply deplores these new developments in southern Lebanon and vigorously condemns the scandalous and vile attacks against UNIFIL. It 61. Niger once again expresses its grief at the tragic loss of two Irish soldiers, but it remains convinced that the blood of these valiant soldiers will serve the cause of peace. We hope that the people and Govemment of Ireland will accept the renewed expression of our sincere condolences.

My delegation is speaking for the second time in this debate to express our shock and indignation at the news received today from southern Lebanon. The kidnapping and cold-blooded murder of two Irish soldiers and the wounding of a third by the rebel forces of Major Haddad are both outrageous and reprehensible. Jamaica joins other delegations in strongly condemning these barbaric acts, which constitute a direct challenge to the Security Council, which created UNIFIL, and on whose behalf UNIFIL acts. 63. These tragic events, which are without precedent in the history of United Nations peace-keeping operations, demonstrate the gravity of the situation in southern Lebanon and the need for the Council to act forcefully and with determination to eliminate the dangers facing UNIFIL and bring the lawless activities of the Haddad forces to an end. In this regard, and in these circumstances, we once more urge the Govemment of Israel to co-operate in this effort and to terminate its support of the Haddad forces. 64. My delegation joins other delegations in offering its condolences to the Government of Ireland and especially to the families of the two soldiers who died in the service of the United Nations and for the cause of peace.

The delegation of the German Democratic Republic wishes to express its deep indignation at the fresh criminal acts against members of the United Nations forces, in Lebanon about which we have just been informed. We join in the condolences expressed by other delegations to the Government of Ireland and the families of the victims. 66. This ‘is a case of cold-blooded murder. The responsibility for this bloody act lies with those circles in Israel which established and are maintaining the Haddad band. Harsh condemnation is also required for the Israeli attack on the Lebanese town of Sarafand, which resulted in the loss of numerous lives. 68. The Council must not fail to take decisive measures to rein in this unbridled aggressor. 69. Mr. R. RAHMAN (Bangladesh): My delegation views recent developments in southern Lebanon with the deepest shock and indignation. Major Haddad’s outlaw forces, taking full advantage of the exemplary restraint and limited military capacity of UNIFIL, have once again gone on a rampage of terror, inflicting brutal murder, assaulting, abducting and threatening blackmail and reprisal. We cannot but condemn these despicable acts in the strongest possible terms. They are an affront to humanity, a direct challenge to the United Nations and a threat to the future of peacekeeping. 70. They demand immediate and forthright action on the part of the Council. They attest, in particular, the need to which we have already been alerted for a serious re-examination by the Council of UNIFIL’s capability to fulfil its mandate with a view to enhancing it by more forceful and effective deterrent powers. 71. The immediate duty of the Council, therefore, is to condemn these criminal actions in the strongest possible terms and the persons that have directly or indirectly encouraged their perpetration. The responsibility of Israel in this context is unambiguous. We believe that the Council must also adopt all measures that will allow UNIFIL to fulfil its mandate, free and unfettered, in its entire area of operation, including steps that must lead to the disarming and disbanding of the outlaw forces. 72. In conclusion, my delegation takes this opportunity to express our deep&t condolences to the Government of Ireland and the families of the Irish soldiers killed and grievously wounded in the latest incident. They will remain honoured martyrs in the cause of world peace.

I have asked to be allowed to speak to express my delegation’s condemnation of the unmitigated killing and execution of two Irish soldiers serving with UNIFIL at the hands of the illegal de &cro forces, which we know to be under the leadership of Major Haddad, as reported to the Council this evening by the Under-Secretary- General for Special Political Affairs. 74. My delegation can hardly find words to describe this senseless and unprecedented act, which constitutes an insolent and outright challenge to the authority of the United Nations, even as the Council is considering the grave and serious developments in southern Lebanon. 82. Tunisia reaffirms its belief in the purposes and principles of the JJnited Nations and expresses its j,: 7 76. My delegation therefore joins the other members of the Council in expressing in the strongest possible terms our revulsion against this barbarous act. My delegation unreservedly supports the forthright statement made by you, Mr. President, on behalf of all the members of the Council. The Council should take such determined action as may be necessary in the days ahead. 77. In conclusion, my delegation extends its deepest condolences to the people and the Government of Ireland and all the bereaved families of the tragic victims of these atrocities.

Mr. President, my delegation fully endorses the statement which you made on behalf of the Council. 79. My delegation condemns with the utmost severity the cold-blooded murder of two unarmed Irish soldiers of UNIFIL and the wounding of a third by members of the Haddad militia. This intolerable act of violence lends further urgency to the already pressing need for Israel to withdraw its support from those militia forces. They must be disarmed and disbanded. That act more than any other would enable UNIFIL to carry out its mandate throughout the area designated for it and would permit the resumption of authority by the Government of Lebanon throughout its territory. 80. My delegation extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to the Government and the people of Ireland, which have contributed so much to United Nations peace-keeping over many years, and, of course, to the families of the two men murdered while doing their duty.

Having taken note of the addenda to the Secretary-General’s report which have just been distributed, the Tunisian delegation wishes to express its indignation at the unprecedented act against the United Nations. Not only does that tragedy come after a number of acts of aggression against the observers and the forces of the United Nations in Lebanon which had already caused loss of life and limb in their ranks, but it has brought the level of aggression to the point of blackmail and the murder of soldiers dedicated to the service of peace. 83. We thoroughly condemn these crimes in southern Lebanon and we condemn those responsible for them. It is clear who profits by such crimes and we feel repugnance for the cowardice of those responsible; this is not the first crime they have committed. 84. We salute the memory of the victims. We wish to convey our condolences to the Government and the people of Ireland and to the bereaved families. The sacrifice of their children confers upon this Organization an even greater moral strength and is a symbol of the quest for peace, which is still the first and last objective of our Organization.

The news from Lebanon is most disturbing and saddening. In the very midst of the Council’s consideration of Israeli aggressicn against Lebanon, an exercise which started last Sunday, savage raids and vicious attacks against UNIFIL continue. Today two soldiers of peace, members of UNIFIL, were taken hostage and-as if .that were not repugnant enough-were murdered in cold blood. 86. If this is not an unacceptable and unpardonable affront to the Council, which set up UNIFIL, my delegation cannot but wonder what further crimes Israel and its surrogates need to commit in order to compel the Council to act decisively and effectively. 87. My delegation strongly condemns the murder today of the two Irish members of UNIFIL as well as the continuing acts of harassment and terrorism against the Force. The so-called de facto forces are irresponsible elements, nurtured by Israel and solely committed to serving Israeli interests. Israel, in our view, cannot escape responsibility for the shameless incidents of today. 88. Zambia is ready to join with other members of the Council in any action to compel Israel and its surrogates in Lebanon to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and to desist forthwith from all savage attacks against UNIFIL. We take the statement of the President of the Council, which we support fully, as only a measured response to the specific events of today. 89. I should like, in conclusion, to express my delegation’s condolences to the Secretary-General, the commander of UNIFIL and to the Government and people of Ireland for the tragic loss of the two members of the Force.

My delegation had intended to participate in the consideration of the item entitled “The situation in the Middle East”. However, owing to the sad circumstances surrounding this meeting, I hope that I may limit myself at this point to expressing my delegation’s sympathy and sincere condolences to the Government and bereaved families of the Irish soldiers who lost their lives in the cause of peace. 92. We fully share the views expressed by you, Mr. President, in the statement you made at the beginning of this meeting. In our view, Israel and its surrogates bear full responsibility for this reprehensible and barbaric, cold-blooded murder of members of UNIFIL, who were carrying out a noble mission.. However, we are not unduly surprised by this act of extreme violence, aided as it was by a Member State which only a few days ago demolished UNIFIL’s Norwegian field hospital. 93. It is incumbent upon the Council to condemn this horrible deed in no uncertain terms. 94. We pray that the souls of those who died may rest in peace. 95. I should like to reserve the right of my delegation to participate in the debate on the item, as I mentioned earlier, at a later date.

The next speaker is the representative of Israel, whom I invite to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement.

In my statement of 14 April [2213th meering] it was my sad duty to extend condolences on behalf of the Government and people of Israel to the Government and people of Fdi on the loss of the Fijian soldier who made the supreme sacrifice in the course of the recent clashes in southern Lebanon. 98. I have now to express with equal sadness condolences to the Government and people of Ireland, not only on the loss of the Irish soldier who died two days ago as a result of the injuries he suffered in the same clashes, but also on the senseless murder of two Irish soldiers by villagers in southern Lebanon today. 99. Israel condemns unreservedly these indefensible acts. Irrespective of their background, there can be no justification whatsoever for the perpetration of such unconscionable activities. 100. The Government of Israel shares the grief at the tragedy which has befallen the families of the Irish

I now call on the representative of Lebanon, who wishes to speak in exercise of his right of reply.

This occasion must, as I said earlier, be observed with solemnity. 103. I regret that the representative of Israel, who for this occasion has lost his usual cynical smile, should have felt compelled, in extending his condolences, to decline the responsibility of his Government and to put the responsibility for the very tragic events on Lebanese who are simply acting as surrogates of Israel.

The next speaker is the representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization, whom I invite to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement.

It is my sad duty to extend condolences to the Council, to the Secretary-General, to UNIFIL, to the people and Government of Ireland and to the families of the martyrs. Our condolences are extended in the name of Chairman Yasser Arafat, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the entire Palestinian people. 106. The crime committed today by the disciples and proteges of the neo-fascist Zionists in Tel Aviv is yet another heinous crime reminiscent of that committed by the Zionists-the masters-more than 30 years ago, when another soldier of peace, the United Nations Mediator, Count Folke Bemadotte, was murdered in cold blood in the Holy City of Jerusalem. 107. In my last statement [221&h meeting], I referred to Israel’s plan to find “just a major” to act as a puppet. But this puppet turned out to be more monstrous than the real Frankenstein monster. Israel should be held equally responsible for this heinous crime. 108. It is-no accident that earlier in the day today the Zionists directly, and without surrogates, committed another heinous crime when they destroyed a convalescent home in Sarafand, in southern Lebanon, thus causing the death of a medical doctor and two medical assistants, in addition to a number of innocent civilians, including infants.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as representative of MEXICO. 111. My delegation pays homage to the members of UNIFIL for the fortitude they have shown in the face of the violence to which they have been subjected. 112. We wish to convey our condolences to the Governments of Fiji and Ireland for the losses suffered by their contingents in carrying out their exalted peacekeeping mission. 113. The United Nations forces and the political authority they represent are being challenged. The moral authority of the Security Council is thus called into question, and it is our bounden duty, therefore, to re-establish it. The mandate conferred by the Council must be strictly carried out and the United Nations forces rigorously respected, since the viability of this type of operation in the future will largely depend on the results that are obtained now. 114. This week it has become clear that the illegal so-called defucto forces have the material and financial support of Israel. All the members of the Council have stood together in forcefully condemning not so much the incidents themselves-which would be absurd-but, rather, those who perpetrated them or who directly or indirectly contributed to those events which we so deeply deplore. 115. Today we have been informed of new incidents indicative of a criminal attitude. The murder this morning of two soldiers from the Irish contingent was unprecedented in the history of United Nations peace-keeping operations. 116. For the time being, and because of the urgency with which the Council felt it should respond in the face of these recent outrages, we have simply made a solemn declaration; but we shall not be able to check this process of deterioration in southern Lebanon unless we promptly adopt substantive measures to strengthen the authority of the Council and engage the political will of each and every member. Only thus shall we carry out the responsibility we all share. The meeting rose at 9.20 p.m. HOW TO OBTAIN UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATIONS United Nations publications may be obtained from bookstores and distributors throughout the world. Consult your bookstore or write to: United Nations, Sales Section, New York or Geneva. COMMENT SE PROCURER LES PUBLICATIONS DES NATIONS UNIES Les publications des Nations Unies sont en ventc darts les librairies et les agences depositaires du monde entier. Informez-vous aupres de votre libraire ou adressez-vous B : Nations Unies, Section des venues. New York ou Geneve. KAK I-IOJIYVMTE. ZI3AAHHII OPPAHHSAIUiM OB-LEAHHEHHhIX HAIWR. H3nanwn Opranu3auan O6’be@skeHHblx HaqwR rdomsio nynmb B xxtixmdx maraamtax H areHTCTuax no ucex panouax Mupa. HaBOJJHTe cnpaanw 06 HanaHWRX a BanreM KXIIX(HOH Maraauue nnu nunr~~e no anpecy: Opraunaauwn 06’bennnennbrx HaquR, Cetcqnrr no nponame nananufi, Hbm-Mopa rimi X-kHeBa. COMO CONSEGUIR PUBLICACIONES DE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS Las publicaciones de las Naciones Unidas esdn en venta en librerlas y casas disttibuidotas en todas partes del mundo. Consulte a su librero o dirljase a: Naciones Unidas, Seccidn de Ventas. Nueva York o Ginebra. Litho in United Nations, New York 00300 83-61462-August 1986-2.425