The Security Council met today on a complaint by Lebanon alleging on escalation of Israeli attacks but adjourned this afternoon without reaching a conclusion. Council President Vasco Futscher Pereire announced that private consultation among members would continue. Sources here said on effort would be made to draft a consensus statement by next week.
Addressing the Council earlier, Israel’s Ambassador Yehuda Blum said his country recently received information “based on reliable sources” that the Palestine Liberation Organization has decided to step up violence in south Lebanon. This information. Blum said, “Is undoubtedly the cause of the heightened tension in the area in the last few days.”
Blum charged that the Council’s meeting was called to satisfy the domestic needs of the Lebanese government “whose predicament is well known.” He declared that Israel supports the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and “believes that the time has come to move towards a negotiated peace between Israel and Lebanon.” He charged the terrorist groups under the leadership of the PLO with responsibility for the chaos in southern Lebanon. “There are some 2000 armed PLO terrorists south of the Litani River” Blum said, who constitute a threat to the citizens of Israel, to the villagers in south Lebanon and to the troops of the. United Nations Interim Force in south Lebanon (UNIFIL). Blum also said that there are 10,000-12,000 terrorists north of the Litani River. Israel’s actions “are specifically directed against concentrations of terrorists in Lebanon,” he stated.
UNDOE MANDATE EXTENDED
Ambassador Ghasson Tueni of Lebanon accused Israel of escalating its attacks against targets in south Lebanon and violating Lebanon’s sovereignty. He said the Security Council should put an end to Israeli “violations of Lebanese, sovereignty.”
The Security Council voted 14-0, last night to extend the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights for another six months, until Nov. 10. China did not participate in the vote. There were no abstentions.
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