S/PV.2783 Security Council

In accordance with the decisions taken at the 2782nd meeting, I invite the representative of Lebanon to take a seat at the Council table; I invite the representatives of Israel, Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic to take the seats reserved for them at the side of the Council Chamber. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Fakhoury (Lebanon) took a place at the Council table; Mr. Netanyahu (Israel), Mr. Salah (Jordan) and Mr. Al-Masri (Syrian Arab Republic) took the places reserved for them at the side of the Council Chamber.

I should like to inform members of the Council that I have received letters from the representatives of Kuwait , Morocco and Saudi Arabia in which they request to be invited to participate'in the discussion of the item on the Council's agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite those representatives to participate in the discussion without the right to vote , in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Abulhasan (Kuwait), X,-e -~- Mr. Bennouna Louridi (Morocco) and Mr. Shihabi (Saudia Arabia) took the places reserved for them at the side of the Council Chamber.

I should also like to inform the Council that I have received a letter dated 15 January 1988 from the Permanent Representative Of Algeria to the United Nations, which reads as follows: (The President) "I have th*e honour to request that the Security Council extend an invitation to Mr. Zehdi Labib Terzi, Permanent Observer of the Palestine Liberation Organization to the United Nations, in accordance with the Council's past practice, i in connection with the Council's consideration ofFthe item 'The situation in the Middle Eatit'." That letter has be&n circulated as document S/19433. Y The proposal.by Algeria is not tide pursuant to rule 37 or rule 39 df the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council, but if approved by thi Council~the invitation to participate in the deba,te would confer on the Palestine Liberation,Crganization the same rights of participation as those conferred on Member States when invited to participate pursuant to rule 37. .Uoes any member of the Council wish to speak on this proposal? Mr, WALTEFG (United States of America): Once again I must restate 'the position of the United States on this matter. i The United Stg$es has consistently taken the position that under the provision&rules of procedure of the Security ‘Council the only legal basis on which the“Counci1 may g'rant a hearing to persons speaking on behalf of non-governmental entities is rule 39. For four decades the United States has supported a generous interpretation of rule 39 and would certainly not object had this matter been'raised under'that rul‘e. I we are, however, opposed to ad hoc special departures from orderly procizdure. The United States consequently opposes extending to the Palestine Liberation Organization the same rights to participate in the proceedings of the Security Council as if that Organization represented aiMember State of ehe United Nations. We’Certainly believe in listening to all points of view, but not if that requires violating the rules. In particular, the United States does not agree with the recent practice of the Security Council which appears selectively to try to enhance r (Mr. Walters, United States) c the prestige of those.who wish to speak in the Council.through a departure from,the rules of procedure. ~,We consider this'special practice to be,without legal 3 foundation and to constitute an abuse of,.the rules. ., ; ,, ,.'. > . For those reasons,,.the United States reques,ts ,t@at the ter,” of the proposed invitation be put ta the vote... of course,,.l$e United States will vote against the I, propos$. ,11 . . <’

If no other member of the Council wishes, to speak, I . . shall take it that the Council is ready to vote on the proposal by Algeria. It is so decided. ,.I. .. .: .' .a ,', i A vote was taken by show of hands.., ‘ ,. ,' . In favour: Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, China, Japan, Nepal, Senegal, Union I * of Swiet Socialist Republics; Yugoslavia, Zambia . . . . / '. .; . , I / 'United State's of America Against! ; s...., .,.: I I' '. ; I <_ : Abstaining: t France, Germany, Federal Republic of of, Italy, United Kingdom of .Great Britain and Northern Ireland . , .. . . .,.

The result of the voting is as follows: 10 in favour,' 1 1 against and 4 abstentions. The proposal has been adopted. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Terxi (Palestine Liberation Organisation) took a place at the side of the Council Chamber.

The Council will now resume its consideration of the item on its agenda. The first speaker is the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. Mr- AL-MASRI (Syrian Arab Republic) (interpretation from Arabic): Allcw me at the outset to congratulate you, Sir, upan your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. I'should also like to take this opportunity to express to His Excellency Anbassador Belonogov, Permament , , ‘3.) 1 i , . I , _, I 1, . . . , . , . I..I._. , . , , I r. . , - - )I (Mr. Al-Masri, Syrian Arab Republic) : ? ./ \ ; t , Representative cf‘ ‘the-~nion'of &viet Socialist '~tepublics to the United'Nations, " whose country 'is "closelylinked to'lirine by relations of friendship and'-' co-operation, my delegation's and myoivn personal appreciation for the able manner in which he prksided'obvr .&he Coukiil’s delihrations'last mon'th'. " "' . . I I 'should also like toc&gr$tulate“the'new members cf the-security Council; I wish them all success in their mission. I would also thank those members who&"' " terms of office have expired .'fcr the valuable.,contributi& they .made to'the success -of the Council@s deliberdtiions.“ /' In a period of less than 20 days the security Council has &t.on.three . occasions to consider the serious, deteriorating situation in 'the bccupied'*,,, Palestinian 'and other Arab tekritor#e$ resulting from’the con$iulng &&pa~iori by ,* :- ., : the invading Zionist forces and from the barbaric oppressive practices of.,ti.e., I, (. i .‘ Israeli OCCupatiOn forces against defenceless civilians, including indiscriminate ' :.> * :r,.: .;* .'.' '. '.. ,' " : .< '() .' .,_.. firing upon those people and premedi'tated k&lings, esp&ially'bf women, children and youths. a: . ' : : :; ._. i‘. '> ,: . I.. ..r '.' ,' , O. . . ..I 1 .' i . ~. ,,', ; ,. . . . . . . .I ,, I . ,. _ ., _ (Mr. Al-Masti, Syrian Arab Republic) The Security Cotindil has adopted important resolutions in this context, " condemning Zsrael'for its policies and pract'itiesjl .' _ .~ .j,..I. , . : which'are"~ioiations'iif the'human right&of the‘palestinian people in the &&pied P;aiestini;;n'-tb~riioriesj"bnd'in'i "' particular for the firing by it& occupation forces on d&on&&&~ The'&curity Council.has'called on fsrael.to ‘cease B~porting"Pdlestini~n'=~v~l~a~~ ftom“ the . " occupied territories and to en&e the‘safe.and i~,diat,'re~~rn'io.'the'~cupieh“"' -" Palesti&an territories'of those who have'been deported. ~&&her, it has"calledon Israel, as the occupying Power;' to abide'by.the pro&ions of‘the Pourth*Geneva "-Y"' 'I Convention on 'the Prot&ction.of Civilian Persons in Time'of War.' ." 'Y" -/':,' Prior to those meetings, ibe Security.Coun&l had met.to consider &e eaually * / serious deteriorating"situati& in southern -hfr.ica due to the &~inuing'actS of' : aggression'perpetrated by the'racist Soutn~Africanzr&gi& agai&k"tibe'Peopleis .' *;. Republic of Angola;' which had 'resultea'ib.dre6dfui lo& of 'human life and"' ,“' v 'I'. destruction of property. The'-Security ~&n&ii ekpressed:'grave cdndern 'regarding '.';I the persistence of the racist iouth African‘rkjime in it& &ts'of viola&n Of thee' ' ' sovereignty of the Republic of'Angola, it& airspace and'its.terri‘torial iXtegri.kyf:‘ The Council condemned 'that r&ihe for i& continuing o&up&ion of-'ba& dfthat '-' Country, as well as its continuing acts of aggrdession, which Violate-Angola's I. . . I t,'_ : sovereign&and territorial integrity.“. '. " . " " ' ., ., i L, t:. ;. ; '-s .‘ ," The Security Council is now meeting at the reauest .of Lebanon.' . -r.I;r' " * 'on;; Yairi. it his considering the ‘s&rious deterioraging situ&i&? in'southern.Lebanon'due t0 <bo' continuing acts df a&ression and'barbaric oppress&n df the Israeli ocdupation".' “ forces against the people of Lebanon and against'tebanon's sovereignty 'and “- territorial integrity, and the continuing ockupation by the Tel Aviv rad‘ikt rbgime‘ ' ': 1 of parts 'of .Lebanon. ,' ;t ~ ,,. ‘ 5 " j I .',' ,: ‘. * .: :' , , , .$ t .(,’ * . ; (Mr. Al-Masri, Syrian Arab Republic) I. : :', &: ': , +- . . .I I_j __- .'.I .L ,. ,...I ‘_ It is no.coincidence that:the Security Council has met to consider the tense . . . : and:grave +: situ?t!ons,in soufhern,Africa and inthe Palestinian and ,other,xzcupied 1 ; / ,": / .- Arab territories and.southern Lebanon in a period of less than two months.,,It.is; . . ._ : I 8 no coincidence that it continues to consider ,the continuing acts of aggression of .; ' >I.( ._ :_ I the racist Pretoria,and Tel Aviv r{gimes,and their fascist practices. It is-no. i coincidence that.it has.adopted resolutions.condemning,,b$h of them. I ~ . . . . . / . . '.‘ This simultaneous perpetration of acts ang,.the concomitant policies ,of twooutlaw.fascist r&gimes that do not heed the rules of morality and civilised :' , ,. behaviour result from a.common.,terroris$ origin and a common fascist structure%, as : well as the total coyordination of,their, acts ,and practices. il 1 . .lir , , At the last meeting of the Security Council we heard an important statement‘by 8 the Ambassador of'Leb?non in which he,described.,the tragic situation in southern ..,. - ) ,.CS') ,.. Lebanon under Israeli occupation. . . .: .He spoke.of the continuing acts of aggression'. ,, * being pqrpetrated by the Israeli occupation.forces on ?,.daily basis against,the ,, ,:L" ,:I,- people of,Lebfnon, ,against Lebanese sovereignty and.ter,+torial integrity?. ,If. 1' : those,acts indicate anything, 1: : it is an extremist brand,of fascism,aimed at, ,among -. : other things, crqating a c.limate of fear and tqrror in order ultimately to fqrce * .',' ., ,a " i the Lebanese ?to leave their land and property. I.... .L. : The expansionist, ,terrorist L tendencies of Israel are no longer a secret. Its ultimpfe aim is.,to take over, ; Leban,ese territory and definitively remove it from Lebanese sovereignty. ., .,' Let us recall the resolutions adopted by different,World Zionist Congresses . . . 5. from the beginning. Let us recall the maps they issued'of what ,they called Israel, , which very clearly reveal the real ambitions of Zionism as regards southern Lebanon and its resources. .~ . ,. ?ll elge i,s false,, -especially its claims regarding the '.: so-called creation of a "security zone" in Lebanese territory, which .is merely,,the practical application and implementation of those ambitions. ‘ (Mr. Al-Masr i, Syrian Arab Republic) .The theory of -?sraeli security, whit$ has been the source of all the acts. Of .,.b i, * 1 ‘: (I i ‘.” : 5,,, ,i )’ : ,, violence, aggression and terrorism that have been ,and continue, to be pqpetrated,by .: ‘.8 I ., * :’ t’. J . i, ., . Israel in the region - the theory which led to the creation of the so-called . . / . . , L.” ‘,’ : -,, \ . > ._ . 3,;” i ,.. :, I ‘1, - security, zone inside Lebanese territory - is but a synonym for Israeli expansionist ; . ., . *. ) , 1. ;. ,y.Q. _ ; : policies. It is the modern expression of the “lebensraum” theory ,,used by Uazism.,*jto / ‘_ ..,. .I ., % i.. _, ,. ,,A+ .T i justtfy its expansion into the territory’of other States k;d its occupation of 1,.: j.< ” c ./,>‘ : r .- 1. L I‘:’ ;, _ ; .; $2. ,< those States. 1,:’ ..- I .:-. .. : ,,.,, ,” ic’;, z-4 ; ‘.<-: .,.., , _. Everybody knows that the tragic situation in southern Lebanon, has come about. .,. r,. .’ “~, , because of ;Israel’s insistence on what it,,calls the .%ecurity zone” inside Lebanese .I territory; because, of “Israel’s rejection of Security Council r,esolutions <calling ,._, ’ ,, I. for full and unconditional wjthdrawal .j. _ .‘. I from all Lebanese territories; and because I ,’ Israel is ,arming mercenary elements it then uses as instruments for terror and ,_ 1 _ . :’ _‘. ,I’ ‘, ,.- : _ : : ‘. , .; j other acts of violence against Lebanese citizens. It is, further, due to the acts ,,, “, L. II ., .: A .z of oppression and terrorism of the Israeli occupation forcesI,~~as well.,,,as I.srael’S 1 ‘_ I. . : % <. . . . “,,’ _, ,... refusal to let United Nations forces be deployed in the area and its hindering of J , ,F . ‘. ‘... ‘1. ,, ‘* ? -\ ‘_ ;, .’ ,.; I, .;. ,: -8 .‘,‘f ; :;- , *eir .OFations* , .; s _. . . ,~ _. ~- : _., ~, ~ , ’ : ; . ,, . -, __.. ;. 1 ;‘I !. :... .’ The Israeli occupation forces have turned the towns and vSllages of south,e,rn . . ‘_ . Lebanon into detention cam@ by besieging them and preventing people .from, entering ‘” :‘;\..s .^_ .- *, /. -. or leaving them. Those occupation forces have turned life in those towns.pnd .: . ,.. . .1 ,.L; “2 : * * villages into a hell in which Israeli occupation forces perpetrate daily acts of ‘C 2 : ; < ’ ., .:. ,-. ‘. ; :. < r( : “,’ _. ,. , . . oppression, killing and destruction from air, land and sea. L ;’ .’ ’ ;,,;..:.. ,. _. _ ‘- ;;< y,r!:( The Security Council bears a grave responsibility to put an end to this tragic : : : situation. : One of jts main duties as the highest b*y responsible for the I.. . . ^ ,, : ‘1. _,,, ,.i _.( .‘” * : , / . . I,. ;-, ;!,: 2 */ maintenance of international peace and security is to take effective measures to ,‘. _. ;. .-. j* * “. c :c’ !..f _ _I force Israel to withdraw immediately and completely fr,om all .Lebanese terri@r,i4es .,_*_, .,. _; and to refrain from any acts of aggression against Lebanon, its sovereignty and . territorial integrity and its people. , (Mr. Al-Masri, Sy rian Arab Republic) The effectiveness and credibility of the Security Council depend essentially s. _ on its ability to carry o&its mission: the maintenance of international peace and security. That ability is tested every ti& that the Security do~cil is .’ called upon to take measures to put an end to Israeli violations. In our view, < though, the.Council’s responsibility do& not end with the adoption of a resolution, however important that may be.’ The Council must ensure its full and complete implementation, as well as ensuring respect for Lebanon's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. The national resistance in Lebanon , together with the brave uprisings in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as the Syrian Arab’ Golan, will not stop until the land and the shrines are liberated from Israeli occupation, its effects and its collaborators. The international community must stand’firpy’behind that brave resistance. . I The barbaric Israeli aggression against-L&&on, the death .cf dozens of-. . . martyrs, not to mention the wounded, calls once again for ‘effective ~S&Urity Council measures, including implementation of the provisions of Chapter VII of the Charter, against Israel to force it tc’put an end ‘to its acts of aggression and to withdraw completely and immediately ‘from southern Lebancn and all other occupied Arab territories. : > The i&SImm~~ I thank the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic for his kind words about me. ‘,\ The next speaker is Mr. Wansouri, Acting Permanent Observer of the fieague of Arab States, to whom the Council extended an invitation under rule 39 Of its provisional rules of procedure at its 2782nd meeting; I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. Mt. MANSOURI (interpretation from Arabic); I should-like to take this opportunity to extend to you, Sir, and, through you, to the members,of the Security Council, the thanks of the Secretary-Gener,al of the League of Arab States for allowing us to participate in the Council's debate on the continued acts of . . aggression and arbitrary practices perpetrated by the Israeli occupation authorities in Lebanon. I. It is also a pleasure, Sir, to congratulate you on your assumption of the . presidency of the Council, which is entrusted with the all-important ,responsibility . of maintaining international peace and security. We are confident that your diplomatic expertise and your belief in the need for enhancing the rules of international law will guarantee the objective conduct of these deliberations and . lead to the adoption of resolutions to guarantee the,security and territorial integrity of the Lebanese Republic. I should also like to pay tribute to the wise leadership provided, last month, . by the Permanent Representative of the Soviet Unionto ~the work of the Council, : which was crowned with success. .' * The Council meets for the fourth time in less than a month to discuss the continued acts of aggressian perpetrated by the Israeli authorites in Lebanon* the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza strip. It has been convened to discuss Israel's continued violations of Lebanon's sovereignty, independence.and territorial ,. integrity. Indeed, whether directly or through its agents in the "security zone" .it established in southern Lebanon, Israel is still imposing its authority. I r II'G Israel has usurped part of Lebanese territory and defied Security Council ,. . " resolutions 425 (1978), 426 (1978), 508 (1982) and 509 (1982),- to mention but.a.,, few - which call on Israel to withdraw from all Lebanese territories. The last& (Mr. Mansour i) link in the chain of such acts of aggression was perpetrated by the Israeli air ,’ force on 2 January ‘1988 against a number of peaceful civilian cities and villages and led to the death of 26 people and scores of injured. Most ‘of the victims were children and other defenseless Lebanese and Palestinian civilians. Last year the Lebanese Government drew the Council’s attenticn to Israel’s Continued acts of aggression by air, land and sea against Lebanese territories. In his statement before the Council, and in the many letters he addresed to the Council which were distributed as official documents - ‘15 in 1987 - the Permanent Representative of Lebanon had detailed Israel’s acts of aggression, violations and the resultant human and material losses. Despite the Council’s discussion of the details of these acts of aggression . and the Council’s repeated denunciation of them, Israel continues to ignore the Council and to defy its resolutions. Besides persisting in its acts of aggression, and in .its defiance of the rules of international law, the most recent example of such defiance being the deportation of four Palestinian civilians by helicopter that violated Lebanese air space. They were left in Lebanese territory, despite Lebanon’s official refusal to receive them, and despite Security Council resolution 607 “(1988). &ich called upon Israel not to deport any Palestinian civilians. The Secretary-General’s report to the Council (S/19318) contains information that confirms’ that Israel h.as paved many roads within Lebanese territory and placed fences around them,. thus preventing Lebanese civilians from entering their farmlands, the source of their livelihood. The report also mentions the many acts of aggression that have been aimed at annexing Lebanese territories and realigning borders as Israeli interests dictate. Israel’s continued occupation of Parts of southern Lebanon and its establishment of the so-called security zone is in clear : (Mr. Mansouri) contravention of the principles of international law and SecurityCouncil decisions - in particular, resolutions 425 (1978) and 426.(1978) and subsequent 2 resolutions, uhich'call for Israel's complete and unconditional withdrawal from’ I Lebanese territory. Regarding-this continued'defiance, the General Secretariat of the League of Arab S&tes believes that the time has come for the Security Council to shoulder it.5 responsibilities fully and effectively for the maintenance of peace in the Middle East. _’ . . . : : .._,,,I , , ._ . .-_ , . . The Council must seriously search for ways and means to compel Israel to yield .., i I' '", " to the international Conanunity's will, to respect the resolutions of the Council .., ,.; . . ,,.,.:"- - . . . 1 : ,‘ ; ; I: -, :, I' " .; _ : , ., and heed the principles of international law and to facilitate the depioyment of )' _ . ,,_ i.# '. , ,. ; ., '_'. ~. /_' I i : ,' ', : ;. the United Nations forces to Lebanon's international borders, thus making it j y . '2, ,, possible for the Lebanese Government to extend its sovereignty throughout-Lebanon -, . . '3. . ' '_, i ., . ,. ..i, territory. /..'.,7 1 .:c,r.. . = -, 1.1 * i' . . . ', In conclusion, we must say that what is taking place in the occupied ‘..<.' t, ,' .*. / ~ , .,, , _' . . Palestinian and other Arab territories is the result of the continued Israeli ., ,' ' . occupation of those territories. If the international community, and the membersof the Security Council in particular, truly wish to establish peace and security in the Middle East, what must be achieved is first and forenrost the withdrawal of the Israeli forces fram the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories and granting the Palestinian people its right to self-determination, in keeping with the resolutions of the United Nations on the subject. The PRESIDWT: I thank Mr. Mansouri for his kind words about me. The next speaker is the representative of Saudi Arabia. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. Mr. SHIFXABI '(Saudi Arabia) (interpretation from Arabic): Sir, it gives me Pleasure to congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council. your personal qualities and extensive experience and my knowledge of,your competence and objectivity give me full confidence that the Council will under your presidency discharge its responsibilities in the manner we expect. 1 should like to thank with appreciation your predecessor in the presidency of the council for the month of Uecember, Ambassador Belonogov, Permanent Representative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, for the competence and skill with which he directed the proceedings of the Council during the past month. (Mr. Shihabi, Saudi Arabia) ;'The subject and the question ,under our constdetatfon':taday,'iS::lthe. I§raeli')"; aggression against“tibanon; an independent and full9 sov&e'ign'St&te'. : tib&&;' a' State re&&ized by"&1 the'world and by ail the'respectabie State&'Of the'world.,- is the victim of aggre'ssion by Israel , whi;ch is' not're&bniied,by“mor& &an half Of the States'of the wbrld.' ,This is the subject of. the compiaint. The Permanent Representative of Lebanon has':eloguently detailed the crimes and actzof?:;&ggression committed by the Israeli authorities,' which thro&tenpeace and security;~?challenge' the international Organizatioh and are breaches of its Charter;' I shall not rep&t those details'. ,; . ~. ,'. ,:. : I. ._ I .'.a 7 ', : As for the q&&ion: ‘ Does this terrorist establishment today h&v&-& peculiar status ,abtie the laths, donvetitions,'titirm&, pri&ipl&, ethitisti obligations and,' A rights in the field of violations of iaws, crimes; terrorism'and aggression that... all&s it t&invade the countries of.other.peoples, -to ,launch. m&lit&y attack3 ",.iTagainst States, with its army; navy,"air force 'and tanks?: 'It .'&lters the'.'"" i ': neighbouring St&test' frontiers and steals the-ir.waters; it-attacks,-'the,Palestindans on the Soil Of Palestine, Lebanon and even'~.in Tunisia', 'And th&'I;ebanese~in' tl-e~.::‘~'~' heart oi'th@ir land bile r&maining Immune from pimishment'. " .' . .I.: ' " ,.,i'-t- NO matter what'the Zionist spokesman says ; all member$‘kno;Gt.the fa‘otst th<y have .&ied war against women'&d .&ildren using tanks"and gunSIon the,Soil Of ,!-a Palestine and Lebanon. 'But we'&k the international &nmunity i especiallyth%&'.' who shed tears for humanitarian standards , civilized traditions and “internatiOn.al’- 1 obligations for the sake,.of those people; for that-country or the:other State,-- where are the Palestinian people's rights? Where are the Lebanese people's rights? Israel,:insignificant on its own, impotent by~it%own potentials-and no d&bt a failure in the end', &3.&ninitting all &se cri& for'the'eradication of-whim* the international community declared it fought the Nazis and Fascists, and for which Ft.is now'boycotting ,South Africa.. All those rdgimes had their spokesmen attempting to justify their crimes,.as the"Zionists are doing today, all of which are,being committed in front..of the international community in Palestine and Lebanon. .,Where .do ,you stand, distinguished members, in relation.to that?, ' ! The despicable justification of Israel.when it murders people and says that it is carrying out its responsibility in maintaining security for those same people is but a.pretext,by any invader oppressing the people by oppressior.and.terrorism. _' The,is$tuation in Palestine is not a normal one in which security is being breaChed by a group of outlaws as commonly happens in any established, harmonious and. balanoed society built upon well-known measures in national and international societies., It is a terrorist network which occupied the land of a well-established people, depriving them of their means of livelihood and minimal human rights, spoiling their life, wishing-to subjugate it hy oppression and terror to Submit it to its settler colcialism or to flee its country. Thepeople are only resisting aggr,essian inorder to-survive in their own country. Israeli invasion pnd settler colonialism ,in .itself defies the norms of the-twentieth century. So ho& .can Israel claim that it is practicing normal rights to maintain %,the peace in occupied Palestine, on the borders of Palestine or in Lebanon? They have.themselves violated the security of, the Palestinian people to start.with. They should be sub.jected to :a disciplining exercise to teach .them how toabide.by the law and to respect .&security and rights of human beings. / j --mat-hashappened and is taking place -today on Lebanesse'soil, is a continuous oppr-ession. : I cannot see how the Council~can delay adopting a forceful resolution in,:.this matter-, .We look forward to the day when the Council, having around its table representatives.of,such high moral, legal and political standing and .?~ ',. responsibility, will be able to take forceful measures .in accordance wi,,th,the 1 . . s '. t-. Charter - rather,,demanded by the Charter ,obligation. ....', . . '.*.;L, .-‘..' ' ", I : The failed attempt of Israel in trying to undermine the Lebanese SOC~$. j _, . . . ) '; ;.;: '.. structure.as a prelude to dismembering the.Leb,anese Stateis an odio.us crime for ::. I. . which the Israeli authorities bear full responsibility withal1 its conseguencesr *I. '( L-v and for which they will answer one day. Their spokesman will say,.,that Lebanon has, I. . ./, ,: its internal problems., we say that eachsociety has its problems but the ,f.sraeli '. :~ . .- . ,: ;I invasion .poses more danger than all the problems of any social circumstances...,,, . . . . < ,. .*. y, .'). j, '.I _' , . . ,_ “.!, ,, ,:I ., : ,: I: .- _ I‘ i_ (Mr. Shihabi, Saudi Arabia) I said'in 'a speech on 2 'November during the General Assembly that'the Israeli authorities would see what a new Palestinian generation subjected to oppression and deprived of security could da. The Zionists will realize that'all the‘plots they have woven'in the chanceries and lobbies of world capitals will not stand'in the' way of Palestinians returning to Palestine. It will be of no -benefit to Israel to . be supported inits stand by some 'States which deny , negate or pretend to ignore the reality of the imp&ations of the Palestinian‘cause. We see today the .' uprising of a new generation in its early 'stages. The future will be gloomier. What goes for the Palestinian people goes also for the Lebanese people, which, God willing, has the right to absolute sovereignty over its land and to be master of its own destiny. If the Zionist authorities persist in their aggression, the day is not far off when they will beg for the peace and security the Arabs have offered% but will not be able to attain.it. The Lebanese people, whose reaction the Zionist army experienced retreating from Lebanon under the Lebanese martyrs ( blows to take cover behind what it thinks to be 'Protective frontiers, will no doubt avenge this aggression. However, this does not excuse us here &en the Security Council , according to the Charter, is committed to establishing its *sition and to taking measures against whomsoever violates regional and <international security , and it does not excuse us from taking a position that conforms with our responsibilities. The Zionist aggression againstLebanon today is accompanied, inside Palestine itself, by a hysterical Zionist-Israeli bloodbath involving women and children. Hence what we are reviewing here is a broad picture of a criminal of increasing dimensions. Israel, its backers and those,who keep silent about it will continue to be surprised, as they have been surprised by the present uprising and by what a people determined to survive can do. (Mr. Shihabi, Saudi Arabia) Let no one have any illusion: the Palestine people is determined to recover its liberty on its national soil, the land of its ancestors. Suffice it to ask the Ian Smith regime in Rhodesia ; suffice 'it to recall the imperialist generals in ,, Algeria who revolted against their own Government in Paris to set up a settler province and what became of them at the hands of the heroes of the Algerian revolution; just let one wait 'see what happens to the Pretoria regime in South Africatomorrow. History repeats itself. As we know, South Africa today supplies its .ally, the Zionist 'authorities , with the latest techniques achieved by its specialists in fighting popular resistance and in committing acts of aggression against its neighbours. It is, as the saying goes, a case of "the blind leading the sightless". One day not far off the Israeli citizen will realize that the Zionist machine has deceived him with glorious promises and rosy expectations and played on his religious sentiments by creating in his mind an unrealistic.pi.cture of a country in which he cannot live but by force of arms, for the Arab nation against which it is committing aggression. thereby earning its enmity, is surpassing it in numbers. and in attachment to the soil'tiich he owns. The accounting to which the Jewish people will then call the Zionist terrorist machine will be the other aspect of this tragedy. IS this a situation that can go on? Can Zionism continue to fight the Palestinian people and the Lebanese people with every means of'aggression and oppression in its possession that society, law , custom and membership of' r '. international organizations forbid? until when can the international Community. overlook Israel's commission of all these crimes and keep the world conscience paralysed? (Mr. Shihabi, Saudi Arabia) A final word. We are here testing our credibility in dealing with this complaint - our credibility when we define international crimes and terrorism in all its aspects, our credibility when we define the rights of peoples, Our credibility when we define human rights and our self-respect when we recuire others to respect these values. A firm stand here will in the long run be in the interest Of every one of us and what we stand for in the field of values, rights and obligations. Lebanon will endure and its people will remain masters of their soil in spite of all sacrifices. The Palestinians will inevitably regain their rights, whatever the price. We in Saudi Arabia stand fully behind all those steadfastly resisting aggression in Lebanon and with the people of Palestine struggling in their land. They shall be victorious in the end. We salute thejr heroism, support their struggle and call upon this Council to take a firm stand in a resolution that COnfOrms to its -responsibilities , as well as call upon all States in the world to fulfil their obligations towards them.

I thank the representative of Saudi Arabia for the kind words he addressed to me. ‘Mr. JOSSE (Nepal): On behalf of Ambassador Rana and my delegation, allow me, Sir, at the very outset to congratulate you most warmly on your assumption of the high office of President of the security Council for the opening month of 1988. Aware as we are of your diplomatic skills and many personal attributes, we are convinced that you will continue to guide the work of the Council with the great competence and efficiency we have already witnessed over the past two eventful weeks. I take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to you for your kind Words of welcome expressed at an earlier meeting of the Council and also to recall that our two countries are bound by close traditional ties of.friendship and : understanding. As I am speaking here for the first time since Nepal's recent accession to membership of the Council, I wish to assure you, sir, that during its two-year tenure of membership Nepal will always co-operate in ,any endeavour aimed two-year tenure of membership Nepal will always co-operate in ,any endeavour aimed at the enhancement of the.prestige and effectiveness of the United Nations - and of at the enhancement of the.prestige and effectiveness of the United Nations - and of the Security Council - the Security Council - in the maintenance of international peace and security. in the maintenance of international peace and security. . . . . . . _. . . _. ?,,;:May,.I also take a moment to express my delegation’s deep appreciation to His Excellency,.Ambassador pleksandr M. Belonogov of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ?,for the exemplary .manner in ,which he led the Council ,,in the busy closing . month of .:1987. , ‘., .., ‘. -. Coming new to .the issue before us , we wish first of all to put on ~record : Nepal% .deep concern at the. deteriorating situation in southern Lebanon resulting from repeated acts by Israeli.milftary .forces in Lebanese territory. This concern, we believe, is re.flected in the draft resolution which is now before US and s$onsored by Nepal and other non-aligned,members. As a troop-ccntributing country to the United Nations ‘Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for the past several years , we take this opportunity to recall, in par titular , Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and strongly reaffirm the need for an isunediate end to Israeli attacks and all actions affecting the safety of the civilian population in southern Lebanon. For the restoration of peace and security along the Israel-Lebanon border, Nepal calls for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory and scrupulous respect of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its in terna tionally recogn ized boundaries . We have taken note of the report of the Secretary-General, .contained in document S/19318 of 4 December 1987, on border encroachments by Israel in that part I of southern,Lebanon in which Israeli forces remain present. We avail ourselves of this opportunity to call for an end to any such acts that violate the border, attempt to occupy or change the status of Lebanese territory or impede the return of the effective authority of the Government of Lebanon over sovereign Lebanese In this'context;'Nepal therefore urges all parties,to,coyperate.fully.with I i the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, which continues.to have a valuable : % peace-keeping role toplay within its area,of operation. ., ;; ,_ 8 :,_.

I thank the representative of Nepal for the kind th.ings : he said about me. .:, ..I The next speaker is the representative of Israel., ,I invite him to take a,, . ., place at the Council table and to make his statement. ! ._ -, . . . - ^' Mr. NETANYABU (Israel); Allm me to say at the outset'that I owe a debt of gratitude to the Permanent Representative of Lebanon and-, indeed,,to the other, ‘,' representatives who have spokenin this debatefor highlighting'the point we tried: to make in earlier discussions, namely, that the Security Council.is.nqt only being abused; it is being abused by these repeated,convenings to the point of irrelevance. Of course, these proceedings have their comic relief; we have.just heard some . . of them. For example, the Saudi Arabian representative's.solemn invocati.on of : -, : . t , .> .human rights", when he talks about the "norms of the twentieth century",and.wails against dismemberment.. I assume he is going to talk about changing the legal code;:: in Saudi Arabia. When he talks &bout apartheid and I,srael in.,one breath,,1 ,aSsUlWS he is going to refer to United Nations reports -of this year ,that accuse his country - not mine - of literally fuelli,ng South Africa with a flow of oil. j k. ;..i;, There are, of course, such entertaining diversions as the Syrian ; .I8 ~ .~Y:l-i? representative's talk' about "terrorism" and gNazisma~, when his own re'gime ::,abou,t .:' which I asked him last time - continues to hold as its guest the most notorious wanted Nazi criminal, Alois Brunner~ i : .. .' Having said that, I thought,the most interesting thing here is .that the-.focus-,: of these discussions - aside from the attempts to bring in other, extraneous,, '3 ? I: issues - is the question of Lebanon's sovereignty. We are talking about.its --‘; -. ., ., (Mr. Netanyahu, Israel) ..: .,. ‘,I. , , territorial. integrity;'.‘ -, th'e'withdrawal of foreign forces from Leb&on.i“and the sanctity'of Lebanese.soVereignty. This debate' - or what passes for a debate - is focusing these concerns on my'country and solely on my country. , Well, let me s&y a word about my ca'untry and the. matter-of Lebanonese sovereignty; let me say a word about that first. on 17 r&y 1983 Israel and Lebanon signed anagreement which called for the mu&Al respect of each other's sovereignty; security arrangements along our borders, which were to be inviolable; and the,c?omplete withdrawal‘of Israeli forces; to &ich we agreed. That is perfectly in line tiith our 'ongoing'policy vis&vis Lebanon which basicaliy has three components:'. first, the complete lack of any territorial claim by Israel against tiy Lebtiese territory; seccndly, Israel's desire tosee Lebanese ./ sovereignty restored by a strong central Government'in i,ebanon over all of Lebanon; and, thirdly; security arr&gemen& until such a Government emerges and is able to take pOssession, control-and responsibility cf that territory. . We signed that agreement. We were prepared to'go ahead'with it. who abrogated.that agreement? ,Did we‘abrogate that agreement?' No, we did not; it was Lebanon. : Why.did'Leban& abrogate that agreement? Because; perhaps, of 'gentle . moral SuasiOn from its neighbours? No. Because i&largest neighbour, Syria, lobbed artillery shells into Lebanon's capital and 'nearly killed the President of Lebanon in what was left of the presidential palace': .' And, w.ith that kind of "gentle suasion"; Lebanon was raped into abrogating that agreement. Why did Syria violate that agreement? There are two important issues here. It violated it not only because that was a demons'tration - perhaps the first demonstration in years L of an ,act of true independence by Lebanon, a true assertion of'its desire to-have some control~over its destiny and its borders. It was not only that; that was the first. was a second reason. That agreement, more than anything else, There highlights what Syria 'is unprepared to do. Was Syria willing, is it,willing today.,; to sign an agreement that respects Lebanon's sovereignty, that calls for the I:.-' I 6, .'. i withdrawal of all foreign forces - today <there are about 30,000 Syrian troops ' there - and the inviolability of borders? Syria is not willing to do that. .fn fact, it is not willing to recognize Lebanon. It is not,willng to,send an ,.- Ambassador to Lebanon. It is not willing to recognize the Lebanese-Syrian .. .I boundary. It is not willing to withdraw -its forces from Lebanon. ; It occupies . ', L ._ ,^ about 60 per cent of the Country. Syria's answer to that is: "We are guests. We have been invited." To .: paraphrase a well-known-statement: with such guests, who needs enemies? ,_ For that matter, would Syria accept an invitation to leave? There was.such an invitation, issued as boldly as.the President of Lebanon, Mr. Gemayel, carl,do SO. ,:. given the fact that his brother was murdered by the Syrians.. He said the following at the forty-second session of the United Nations General Assembly: . . %yria*s military presence in Lebanon since 1976 -" that,is an important date: not since 1982, when we.went into Lebanon, but since 1976 - . "has 'extended to over 60 per cent of our territory. This has given Syria overwhelming influence in Lebanon which has not served the better interests Of either country". (A/42/PV.10, p. 17) That ivas diplomatically stated, but all members, knowing the realities of to Lebanon, know that that was a forceful' statement from Lebanon's leader to Syria get out. Did they get out? They have not gotten out; they have brought more troops in. They go into the capital; they go into other parts of Lebanon. What about Lebanon's sovereignty? That is why the Council is convened. If the Council is going to discuss that, we.must immediately point out that it is not Only Syria that is violating Lebanon's sovereignty, because there are two others. I do not mean that they are violating it just in practice; I mean that it is part of their stated ideology, because the second factor is Iran. '. Iran, in 1981, introduced into Lebanon roughly 1,000 Revolutionary Guards, Iranians imported from Tehran. Since then it has built a cadre of Hezbollah and associated people, about 3,000 of them; who receive money and instructions through , the Iranian ambassadors in both Syria and Beirut. They have one function - aside from terrorizing Lebanon, planting car-bombs galore, turning the place into a living hell for the Lebanese. And that function is publicly stated both by . Hezbollah and by Iran: it is & turn Lebanon into nothing short of a full-fledged Islamic republic, a second Islamic republic, an,extension of Iranian sovereignty, as one may define that term. What about Lebanon's sovereignty in that case? That is only the second affront to that "sacred sovereignty", as someone called it here. There is a third force, and that force is; of cOursel the PLO. 'Before' I get to that fwould be remiss if I did not quote Mr. Gemayel on my Previous point as Well, because he spoke about the Iranians as well during the forty-second session of the General Assembly. He said, "al Iranians who are in Lebanon by virtue of Iran's self-bestowed military-ideological commitment and without the permission of the Lebanese Government should leave as soon as possiblea. (~/42/Pv.10, p. 18-20) That again was a pretty remarkable statement. '. I mentioned the PLO. The PM), as members know, occupied a good chunk of Lebanon, 'from West Beirut down to Tyre, for a ful'l decade, from 1972 to 1982, and it installed there a reign of pillage and terror. In fact, it built an empire of terror. Now it is seeking to re-establish its terror garrisons in Lebanon. Mr. Gemayel had something to say about that too. me said, I. 'In years past my country was proud to'be a haven for peace . . . Now it has become a haven for terror . ..I. (p. 21) *Lebanon will not tolerate on its territory an armed group Of any kind.. (p.'18-20) . .(. .) His use of the word "groups" was interesting. What about Lebanon's sovereignty,when it comes to Syria, to the PLO, to Iran, all three of which not only.act but declare that they act in order completely to :, usurp Lebanon's territory and sovereignty for their own twisted vision$ of empire? They each want to - and they each .do - devour a chunk of Lebanon's flesh. Like wild beasts converging an their kill,-they fight one another; they are crowding one .I another; they jostle; they even attack one another. And they kill one another on .i occasion. '. (Mr. Netanyahu, Israel) : But one thing they have in common, both in rhetoric and in action, and that is that, regardless of their differences over the division of the spoils, they will join in one mission: to use Lebanon's territory as a base for terrorist attacks against Israel. If we were going to inject some context - a word I used at previous meetings of the Council this month - into these deliberations, then I would read out the whole list I have here of attacks against my country emanating from the South of Lebanon, from 16 September 1987 to 1January this year, In that period we had 17 separate armed attacks against Israel from Lebanon, from the Pi&, from.the Iranian-controlled Hesbollah, and from Syrian-backed groups, attacks they "Claim credit' for, to use their'phrase, or take responsibility for. In fact, over this past weekend we had 122mm Katyushas fired from Lebanon into northern Israel. If we want to demnstrate what we are really talking about, let us focus on one incident, because somebody here - I believe it was the representative of the Arab' League - spoke about the “sanctity of Lebanon's airspace"; I think those were the words he used. Well, the "sanctity.of Lebanon's airspace" implies that gliders with armed men can be sent out of Lebanese territory into Israeli territory - as indeed -the Jibril general command group, the PFLP, did. That was on 25 November,. The interesting thing about it was that, as I mentioned, there is some collusion'. among these predators; indeed, Mustafa Tlass, the Defence Minister of Syria, made aspeechtwo weeks after that attack, which was a clear act of aggression: itwas not aimed at the security zone; it was aimed at Israel proper. In that speech before the air force academy in Syria, Mr. Tlass said that the attack wa$ carried out not only with Syria's full knowledge, but with its *full assistance*. (Mt. Netanyahu, Israel] What we have here, then, is not only a complete disavowal of Lebanon’s sovereignty, but a complete disavowal in order to use it for armed attacks against : a neighbouring State. What would any Government do as a State neighbouring Lebanon, subject to those attacks? What any Government would do is take ongoing measures for self-de,fencer and we are doing precisely that. Those measures are restrained, they are .’ temporary, but they are necessary. They are necessary because the terrorist headquarters, from any one of the three sources I mentioned, continue to hatch their muderous plots, continue to send their murderous killers, continue to try to ’ take a toll of lives of Israelis across the border. I heard some words here about Wencroachments”. If this debate runs on8 perhaps I shall have time to take the map prepared by the Secretary-General. That map shows thin strips of provisional Israeli fences along the Israeli-Lebanese j I_ border, whose sole purpose is to ‘protect us against these attacks; I should like. to -_, show the other encr.oachments - the gobs of Lebanese territory not included On the map Y you would need an awfully large map to show the Bekaa valley and Beirut’ - the I ; other encroachments .on Lebanese territory which,. of course, do not enter into ,’ things here. ’ ; The question I really have to address ist Who should be complaining here? : 1 Should it be Lebanon that is complaining, or should it be Israel‘ that iS complaining? It should be Israel, and it would be Israel, except for two things. 1 ..* The first thing is, to whom am I going to address these complaints? . even begin to redress the legitimate complaints that we have, then I would address ,), these cdmpltints to you first: ._. - .' ., And to whom should we address it on the second order , Mr. President?' To the 'I'Z Council? By adopting these draft resolutions, by having these meetings,. this meeting today and other meetings, the Council is adopting a principle that I “, .' mentioned last tin&: I. I condone all Arab attacks against Israel; condemn any Israeli ,. _, , Countermeasure. So this Council is not the place for a serious discussion of the problems in south Lebanon and in Lebanon in general. ',. 7. Now, in the absence of a Lebanese Government capable of assuming.its I.‘, _ _ _' . responsibilities, we have no option but to take the.'measures.necessary: for our - .. !, . I security. However, the.interesting thing is the effects that that has on'the a?' .:. ,, . ). , condition in the south.. I have heard'here a.lot of discussions about the terrible : plight of the people in the south. < 2 I will not tell you that their life is .; I 'f i. - paradise, but I would submit to you that , compared to what is happening elsewhere .,,', : in Lebanon, it is a lot better , because what we see is the Lebanese people-voting with their feet. They have no other way to vote. What we see is that the / ., .~ populati'on in' 'the'souih is 's'teadiiy swelling.‘ ' : Let me give two examples. There is a village called Nabatiyah - indeed, it is ,i j. not'; village, but a town, . ..- the largest town in the south of Lebanon.' Before our action in 1982 there were 5,000 people there , mostly PLO using it as amajor base for attacks against us. Today, it has 80,000. There is another village called Kunin, with the same story - not the same numbers, but the same proportions. There are many other examples. Why? Because we have a good-fence policy, because we assist in the agriculture in the south, because we allow favourable medical conditions, because there is an economy in the south that works, because there is (Mr. Netanyahu, Israel) . f I relative tranquillity, because of what is happening in,the rest of Lebanon. And . ‘_ ‘.. ., ._ ., ., 1 Is*. , is happening in the rest of Lebanon is best described, not by me, but by the . . what - ,. : , , . I _. culled last month from the Federal Broadcasting Service (FBIS) . '. ,( ,,,,, j., , -.. '. : : broadcasts. -I. Arab press reports that monitors Arab It would take about two hours, but I could read here everything that is,.going I. I. : . .,-. on in the rest of the Middle East. However, ,. ' " * : I think we are trying to make lunch, ; : : . . , > 1 .. and I shall therefore confine myself to reading out what is going on in . :, '. :- '_ : Lebanon - in the rest of Lebanon. On 1 December, this is what happened: Syrian . _' , I,, intelligence agents kidnapped two Lebanese security officials in Beirut. .On that ,' / '." I.. 'I* , same day a car bomb explodes in Bsharri - no injuries reported, happily. On 6 # \'.' ._ .* ,' December there were 18 Palestinians wounded in Shatila camp in Lebanon in . ,. .'I,/< internecine clashes - j that is the same Shatila that,is invoked,for other ,purposes. '. I I ' 2 : ._. '. , . . . ,, -_, .', ; On that same day gunmen kill a Syrian soldier in West Beirut. On 11 December, 1 -. ; !. I : .:,;, *' _ ,: ,,P.. "Lebanese Liberation Battalion kills one Syrian soldier in northern Lebanon". On ,, . '. . “ + ,'. .' . 12 December that same organization attacked aSyrian check-point near Tripoli. : ._ '. ; Ia On 14 December, "Syrian forces attack residential areas in Lebanon", and 388 ^ . . ; ,- .* :.:. I : ., ;'- people are arrested. On that same day, "Clash between Nasirite Popular. , , / . ,- p*- . Organization and Lebanese Army". On 16 mcexrber a bomb blows up a military vehicle I' I ,' ,‘.J : in Beirut; also on 16 December "Lebanese Liberation Organization,claims to have. i- . ..I . , *.. .' LC killed Syrian intelligence agent". On 17 D&en&er, the "Ninth of February ,_ : : '. ! Organization" - they change their names very rapidly - "attacks Syrian soldiers in _ : ?,:'I ., -: ._ . Lebanon; several killed." *. " f .‘ On 19 December, '. '_. “ "Lebanese Liberation kills Syrian soldier"; on 19 December <i'i' "one killed in Lebanese clashes on Al-Tayyunah' and Dar al-Kitab combat lines"; on : (I. : .",.-3.'~ 19 December 'three Abu Nidal group leaders executed". On 20 December there are * , :T -.* clashes between Phalangist and Lebanese forces in Beirut , one dead; on 20 Decetier '? : ; soldier in Tripoli.” .’ ,I- .l... . . On .2 3 December ,‘ .’ ’ : ‘Two Syrian soldieis shot dead i in West He’&ut”; on ,’ ., , : 23 Decembkr, “A&l.and’Palestinians &ash in’shatila”; on .24 Heceder, “Two Syrians killed in West E&irut~‘~ And there is nr>re. ,. If we “want to ‘speak ‘about truth, this is the true picture of Lebanon. It is a ‘1.s .frlj. ;; _ country occupied by -a foreign ‘army - Syria; its capital is torn asunder; its I, ., Government “is paralysed and unable to .function ; rival gangs control all parts of the country and war with each other and its territory is being used as a base of .,I / * aggression against a neighbouring State.’ And here we’ are, convened sdl&nnly ‘to .. .-, . . I*, discuss, with a straight face, ‘the situation’ along the southern border of Lebanon. It reminds me of ‘a sick man, 60 per’ cent of ‘whose body is covered by cancer, whose . / _,._ -. I 3 heart is rotting away wi’th terrible heart disease, I &“I whose internal organs are pitted *, I., : . ‘, ; ..-;. ” .- against each other, the spleen fighting the liver and the liver fighting the : ;. L;‘ spleen, and that patient comes to a doctor to complain of a swollen toe, whereupon .I .. doctor and patient hover over the toe and talk about how one may perhaps cure the .: .: ,.1 rest of”tlie ills by treating the toe. . Some diagnosis! ‘&me’ treatment! “i I -:. * ;- The PRHSIDEN‘T i I should*like, if I may, to say a brief word to members of the Council. We are discussing a subject which arouses very strong feelings l *%,. ‘.. Hard words are said. I think it most important ‘that we should not feel it “. ; .I ..,<.: ‘. 1 __’ - . . necessary to reply immediately to every statement that may be made I but to try to preserve the dignity of our proceedings by looking calmly at the arguments which are deployed and givingeveryone a chance to say his piece, _“.Z (The President) . ; . , For that reason I suggest that we now, before'lunch, hear'the next 'Speak-er on the list,. the representative of.Algeria ; and .then'resume in the'afternoln %t:a tiriri! I shall announce, and that thereafter ,those who,wish tobmake statements'of, reply 'ir will have every opportunity to do so when'our debate'&nes.'w an end. I-think that: that is the .fairest way of proceeding, and I think that .it is also.'the one most .? ./' likely, to preserve the dignity of the Council; tihfch 'is; as y&r ‘President; my ':I-' prime concern. .. : . . . . .' ,; .i! ': \, " I,., Mr. -UJoUUI (Algeria)(interpretdtion‘ 'from French)i" 'I'should.like a-t the "1' outset to convey to you, Sir, ‘the congratulations of the Algerian'delegatMn' on '"': your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council.. Your long experience I^" * and your human and 'professional qualities, which 'we have already had occasion to appreciate, are a guarantee ,that our work will be :successful."To.your pr-edecessor in that post, Ambassador Belonogov, Permanent Bepresentativeof'the. UGSR,"I' Should:' like .to express my delegation% *whole-hearted appreciation for'.'the'pr&isiswoithy '..+ manner in which he directed the'Council's proceedings last month. ..;'. .I ", -: . I should also like to express to the Permanent Representatives .of 'theCongo;;""=- Ghana, the United Arab Emirates, .Bulgaria and,Venezuela -the Algerian delega-tfon'S‘:*:J'; gratitude for their remarkable contributions to the work of the Council anda'the. J.'J1 cause of peace ,in the world during their terms of<.office. ." /. : ; : " .':* ' ",' - ":.L'.~, I should also like .to express to you, Mr. President,"the. Algerian d&gatio&$" thanks for the words of,welcome you yourself- , ‘along witi o&&r m+&ers~osf:~~ ._ '.C--. Council, addressed to us. '. : + '; . . : The Algerian delegation is beginning its term as a'metier:of the Security Council at a time when the United Nations is going through a partkcularly delicate?:.!. Stage and in which the Council is facing many challenges. in Africa,, in the'Mi'ddle*:',"l East, in the Gulf, in Central America and elsewhere .in the world. .' : .'. .;. W. Djoudi, Algeria) The Council's task is an immense one that requires of itdetermination and consistency in.its :efforts to promote and .implement.peaceful, just and definitive solutions wherever .international peace and security are imperilled. Algeria, which identifies itself with the goals and principles of the Don-Aligned Movement and accepts those of the Charter, and whose regional and international activities testify to zitS commitment and perseverence in'contributing to the edifice of peace and the establishment of just and democratic relations among the nations of the world, will spare no effort here with you, Mr. President, and with other metiers of the Council,, .to enable.the Council successfully to discharge its responsibilities and the mandate entrusted to it by the Charter. On 15January last, on a Friday - the day of prayer and meditation for Muslims - the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third most holy place in Islam, was the target of an act of.sacreligious profanation that aroused.profound resentment among a billion Muslims as an .i$olerable affrontto their,mast cherished values, That deliberate act of provocation carried out by the Zionist occupation forces also aroused indignation among all whose civilized values lead them to consider places of worship inviolable. It was no longer enough for the oppressor daily to infringe . . all international laws, including those designed for. use in time of war; in addition it needed to produce irrefutable proof of its .fundamentally intolerant nature in what has.always and everywhere been considered a sanctuary. Thus there was committed in b&d daylight an act of barbarism whose gravity cannot escape the 'attention of this body. This is the fourth time,within a month that the Security.Council has had to -meet urgently to examine .the explosive situation in the Middle East. The Council has been meeting almost constantly over the last few weeks, and on three occasions it has had to take a firm stand against repressive measures of the occupying Power in Occupied Arab territories. This reveals the gravity of the events in those (Mr. Djoudi, Algeria) territories and the magnitude of the legitimate censure that the Israeli brutality and repression has aroused within the international community. It is meeting today to examine the acts.of ,aggression that the Israeli occupation-forces continue to commit in ,Lebanon, which-confirms the dangerous deterioration of the situation in the region .and the need for urgent action by the COUncil to call a halt to the aggressionand .to enable Lebanon to regain its sovereignty over all its territory. .The new year had hardly begun when barbarism once again descended on Lebanon, sowing death and destruction among people who have for 60 many years been exposed t0 almost daily attacks by the aggressive Israeli troops. Twenty-six havedied, including two entire .families; they must be added to the long list of dead and wounded, the victims of the 23 air raids that.took place last year, the last of which alone 'took a toll of more. than 40,deaths in the refugee camp of Ein El Heloue. Along with the air attacks, accompanied by naval and land bombardments, the Israeli occupation army has for years.now been pursuing a policy of harassment against Lebanese villages within the occupied.zone and outside itr: stepping up arrests and searches and dynamiting houses. Several times the same villages have been blockaded; recently that happened to' the village of Yahmour, 4,000 o<f whose inhabitants were for several days deprived':: of medicine, food and other services. The objective of those attacks and operations of harassment is quite clear: ,, to break the heroic resistance of the Lebanese people against the occupier and thus perpetuate the Zionist presence in southern Lebanon. The attempt to modify the frontier line undertaken by the Israeli force6 of. >' o=upation in southkrn Lebanon since 1980, in particular through the construction,) of military facilities so accurately described by the Secretary-General in his report of 4 December (S/19318), stems from the same determination to perpetuate the (Mr. Djoudi, Algeria) Israeli presence in southern Lebanon, indeed to annex part of it, in which regard the Secretary-General expresses concern in his report. Invaded in 1982 by the Israeli army of aggression, which besieged its capital, and having seen part of its territory occupied and the abominable massacres of Lebanese and Palestinian civilians before its brave sons succeeded in repelling the attack, Lebanon today continues to suffer occupation of part of its territory and to be subjected to repeated acts of aggression. The deportation last week to southern Lebanon of four Palestinian citizens who were subjected to expulsion by the Zionist re'gime in flagrant violation of the norms of international law and Security Council resolution 607 (1988), when Lebanon itself had officially declared that it would refuse to receive them in its territory , constitutes a new violation of Lebanese sovereignty and stems from the Zionist leaders' scorn for and defiance of the rule of law and international institutions. In the face of this situation, in which a oountry's sovereignty has been so often flouted, and in which the authority of the Council is so seriously challenged, the Council must act promptly and with determination, as is dictated by the gravity of these events. It must denounce the repeated attacks of Israel against Lebanon and its attempts to modify the frontier line and demand that an end be put to them. It must also reaffirm what its previous resolutions, particularly resolution 425 (1978), have already established as a paramount obligation: strict respect for the territorial integrity , sovereignty and independence of Lebanon within its international recognized boundaries and the immediate withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from its whole territory. That is the objective of the draft resolution now before the Council. The PRES-IDENT: I thank the representative of Algeria for his kind words about me. In view of the hour I intend to adjourn the meeting the Council to continue the consideration of the item on at 3.30 p.m. The meeting rose at 1.05 p.m. nw. The next meeting of the agenda will take place