Blum Raps Syrian Actions in Lebanon

Yehuda Blum, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, charged that Syrian artillery barrages into populated areas in Beirut over the last fortnight killed and wounded “hundreds if not thousands of civilians.” Addressing the General Assembly last Friday, Blum also said that in this process of Syrian attack “about half a million innocent men, women and children have once again been made into refugees and forced to flee their homes.” He said that it is hypocritical on the part of Syria to blame Israel for Lebanon’s ills.

“When Syria, under the guise of regional peace-keeping, massacred civilians to expand its control over Lebanon, its true character and intentions are revealed, “Blum said. He added that “it is a well-known fact that Syria has never established diplomatic relations with Lebanon since this would prejudice its long-standing claim to hegemony over that country.”

Blum, who used his right of reply to address the Assembly, said that during the Assembly debate this year, “certain states appear determined to undermine the prospects for peace.” He called on the Assembly “to rise to the challenge presented by Camp David, and to leave behind the worn-out cliches that have marked past debates” in the UN.

Concluding, the Israeli envoy said “if this Assembly cannot actively encourage the peace process, let it at least allow that process to move forward without obstruction.” In a letter to the President of the General Assembly, Indolocio Liovano of Colombia, Blum protested the fact that a Palestine Liberation Organization speaker was allowed to address the Assembly Oct. 10. Blum claimed that the right of reply in the plenary of the Assembly is available only to member states, as stipulated by the UN charter.