UN slams Israel’s use of cluster bombs in Lebanon

UN slams Israel’s use of cluster bombs in Lebanon

8/30/2006 8:00:00 PM GMT

The United Nations’ humanitarian chief, Jan Egeland, slammed Israel for its “completely immoral” use of cluster bombs in Lebanon, the BBC reported.

UN efforts to clear cluster bombs in Lebanon have been under way since the Israeli offensive ended two weeks ago.

According to Egeland, the UN Mine Action Co-ordination Centrehad had found "nearly 85 percent of bombed areas in south Lebanon" and identified "359 separate cluster bomb strike locations that are contaminated with as many 100,000 unexploded bomblets."

"What’s shocking and I would say completely immoral is that 90 percent of the cluster bomb strikes occurred in the last 72 hours of the conflict when we knew there would be a resolution, when we knew there would be an end," he said.

The UN Security Council passed a ceasefire resolution to end the 34-day conflict between Israel and Hezbollah on Friday 11 August. The truce itself came into effect on Monday, August 14.

Egeland added: "Cluster bombs have affected large areas - lots of homes, lots of farmland. They will be with us for many months, possibly years.

"Every day, people are maimed, wounded and killed by these weapons. It shouldn’t have happened."

"Those places who made those bombs should have a serious talk with Israel on the use of such bombs that are making our lives so miserable trying to help the Lebanese people.

"I hope the U.S. will talk to the Israelis on that, because it is an outrage that we have 100,000 bombs among where children, women, shopkeepers and farmers are now going to tread," Egeland said, adding that he had not been able to get an explanation from the Israelis so far.

Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department opened an investigation into whether Israel misused U.S.-made cluster bombs in Lebanon during the bloody offensive, which claimed the lives of more than 1,200 Lebanese civilians and left southern Lebanon in ruins.

A top White House official told the BBC that the inquiry would focus on whether the U.S.-made bombs were used against civilian areas.

Israel rejects Annan demand to lift blockade

Earlier Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected demands from visiting UN chief Kofi Annan that Israel immediately lift its air and sea blockade of Lebanon and pull out its forces from the south once 5,000 peacekeepers deploy there, the Associated Press reported.

"I do believe the blockade should be lifted," Annan said on the third day of his 11-day Middle East tour, which is aimed at bolstering the UN-brokered truce between Israel and Hezbollah.

The lifting of the siege is necessary for Lebanon’s economy, which suffered enormously as a result of the Israeli offensive.

On the other hand, Olmert said that Israel wouldn’t lift the siege or withdraw its troops unless the ceasefire is fully implemented.

The UN Security Council Resolution 1701 called for the deployment of 15,000 peacekeeping troops to back an equal number of Lebanese soldiers who are already deploying in southern Lebanon.

Israel has said that it won’t withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon unless the whole UN force is deployed. It also insists that it won’t lift the blockade unless Hezbollah is disarmed.

Commenting on Israel’s opposition to his demands, Annan said: "We need to be flexible, because I don’t think there’s ever only one way of solving a problem. We shouldn’t insist that the only way to do it is by deploying international forces.” 

In Syria, visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez also demanded Israel to withdraw its "aggressor forces" from Lebanon and lift the blockade.

Chavez, who met with President Bashar Assad, has compared Israel’s air strikes in Lebanon to the Holocaust, and withdrew his country’s top diplomat from Israel to protest its deadly attacks.

The UN chief also said he hoped that the ceasefire would lead to a full peace deal between Israel and Lebanon.

But Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora said: "Let it be clear, we are not seeking any agreement until there is just and comprehensive peace based on the Arab initiative.” 

The Arab initiative calls for an Israeli withdrawal from all territories seized in the 1967 Middle East war and the establishment of a Palestinian state with eastern Jerusalem as its capital, demands strongly rejected by Israel.

Annan also demanded the unconditional release of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah on July 12.

But a Hezbollah cabinet minister said that the resistance group won’t unconditionally release the Israeli troops, insisting that the pair would only be freed as a result of a prisoner exchange with Israel.

Annan urges Israel to lift Gaza closure

After his talks with Israeli officials, Annan flew to the occupied West Bank to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

At a joint press conference in Ramallah, Annan said that more than 200 Palestinians had been killed since Israel launched its bloody offensive in the Gaza Strip two months ago.

The UN chief also urged Israel to lift its closure of the Gaza Strip and open crossing points there.

"The creation of a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel is the key to solving the problems in this troubled region," Annan said.

"The suffering of the Palestinian people must not be forgotten while we strive to bring peace to Lebanon," he added.

For his part, Abbas said there will be no lasting peace in the Middle East until Israel ends its occupation and a Palestinian state is created.

"Continued occupation of the Arab and Palestinian territories will not achieve peace," he said. 

"Security and stability can be attained only by guaranteeing the return of legal rights to the Palestinian people, implementing the resolutions of international legality, establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital and resolving the issue of Palestinian refugees," Abbas stressed.

Israel claims that its ongoing military offensive in Gaza is aimed at stopping rocket attacks and freeing an Israeli soldier who has been captured by Palestinian resistance groups on June 25. 

But many analysts condemn the offensive as “collective punishment” and describe it as an Israeli plot aimed at toppling the Hamas-led Palestinian government and undermining the Palestinian authority. 

Annan has now arrived in Jordan for talks with King Abdullah II, after which he is expected to proceed to Syria.

http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=12037