U.S. Vetoes Anti-israel Resolution

The United States today vetoed a Lebanese resolution in the Security Council condemning Israel and demanding the immediate withdrawal of all Israeli forces from south Lebanon.

The vote on the resolution was II-I in favor with three abstentions. The abstaining countries were the United Kingdom, Denmark and Australia. The U.S. cast the opposing vote.

The Lebanese draft resolution sought to condemn the Israeli “practices and measures against the civilian population in southern Lebanon, the western Bekaa and the Rashaya district which are in violation of the rules and principles of international law.” The resolution also demanded implementation of previous Security Council resolutions calling for the immediate withdrawal of all Israeli military forces in Lebanon.

U.S. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, in a short statement before she cast the veto, described the Lebanese draft resolution as “unbalanced” and as a draft that “does not accord Israel fair treatment.” She said that even the debate in the Security Council on the Lebanese complaint did not accord Israel “fair treatment,” nothing that Israel was accused of horrendous crimes it did not commit.

Moreover, Kirkpatrick said, the “hostility that singled out Israel” in the Security Council had manifested itself even when the victims in Lebanon were Israeli soldiers. She charged that the Lebanese draft resolution was repleat with “double standards” and the debate in the Security Council was marked by “doublespeak.”

She said Lebanon refused to modify its draft resolution so that the U.S. could join in supporting it. She reiterated Washington’s support of Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon but added that the U.S. wants to see the withdrawal of all foreign forces in Lebanon.

The Israeli Ambassador, Binyamin Netanyahu, said that Israel will continue to protect its soldiers and citizens and will not be deterred by acts of fanatics such as occurred this week in Lebanon in which 12 Israeli soldiers were killed.