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Aug 3 and 4, 2010 | Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aug 03, 2010 and aug 4, 2010

Israeli Ambassador Daniel Carmon, Chargé d'Affaires, ad interim to the U.N.

Letters of Complaint to UN Sec-Gen on Shooting Incident on Israel-Lebanon Border

Letters of complaint from Israeli Ambassador Carmon, Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim, to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon regarding the attack by Lebanese Armed Forces on an Israeli Defense Forces unit south of the Blue Line.

First letter of complaint after the shooting incident on the Israel-Lebanon border:

H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary General
United Nations
New York

Excellency,

I write this letter of complaint regarding a very serious incident that occurred this morning on Israel’s northern border. Earlier today near the Israeli town of Metulla, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were carrying out routine maintenance work on a road located south of the Technical Fence, approximately 50 meters south of the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon. In preparation for this work, the IDF notified UNIFIL well in advance of its plans. As a matter of fact, UNIFIL forces present at the scene on this occasion witnessed first-hand the subsequent events.

At 12:22 local time, Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) positions opened fire at Israel Defense Forces (IDF), killing Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Dov Harari and critically wounding a company commander. Shortly thereafter, at 14:10 Lebanese Armed Forces launched a secondary attack at Israel with rocket propelled grenades.

These attacks threaten stability, peace, and security in our region. In response to this grave incident that constitutes a blatant violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701, Israel exercised its right of self-defense, responding with the appropriate measures on LAF positions in the area.

Israel holds the Government of Lebanon responsible for these attacks and all actions conducted from Lebanese territory. Israel calls upon the international community to exert its influence and to take the necessary measures with the Lebanese authorities to ensure that such provicative violations will not be repeated. I also wish to highlight that Israel has called for an immediate meeting of the Trilateral Commission to be convened tomorrow, 4 August 2010.

In order to fully address this matter, I wish to inform you that this identical letter has been sent to H.E. Mr. Vitaly I. Churkin, President of the United Nations Security Council, to be circulated as an official document of the Security Council.

Allow me, Excellency, to renew to you the assurances of my highest consideration.

Yours truly
Daniel Carmon
Ambassador
Charge d’Affaires, ad interim

Following preliminary findings of UNIFIL’s investigation and UNIFIL’s statement that the tree in question is located south of the line on the Israeli side, Israel submitted a second letter to UN Sec-Gen and President of the Security Council.

Second letter of complaint after the shooting incident on the Israel-Lebanon border:

H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary General
United Nations
New York

Excellency,

I wish to address yesterday’s consultations and Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) briefings at the Security Council regarding the provocative attack by Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) against an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) unit. As I noted yesterday in my letter to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, the IDF unit – having notified UNIFIL well in advance of its plans – was conducting routine maintenance of the Technical Fence south of the Blue Line.

Since yesterday’s briefings and consultations took place hours after the incidents in question and were based only upon initial reports, the facts have become more evident, as reflected by, inter alia, statements by UNIFIL representatives. A UNIFIL spokesperson stated today: “UNIFIL established … that the trees being cut by the Israeli Army are located south of the Blue Line on the Israeli side.”

Due to the severity of this attack by the LAF, Israel expects DPKO and UNIFIL to promptly conclude their briefing in an informative and comprehensive manner in order to share with the Security Council all of the available facts regarding this serious event. As the Security Council approaches the consideration of the mandate of UNIFIL, such a briefing will serve the Council in its important discussions in order to help prevent a reoccurrence of this grave incident.

In order to fully address this matter, I wish to inform you that this identical letter has been sent to H.E. Mr. Vitaly I. Churkin, President of the United Nations Security Council, and H.E. Mr. Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations.

Allow me, Excellency, to renew to you the assurances of my highest consideration.

Yours truly
Daniel Carmon
Ambassador
Charge d’Affaires, ad interim