The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another six months. The vote was 12-0 with two abstentions — the Soviet Union and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). The People’s Republic of China did not participate in the vote.
The present UNIFIL mandate is due to expire on Friday. The renewal mandate will extend until June 19, 1981. UNIFIL was established by the Security Council in March, 1978 to supervise the peace in south Lebanon.
It was reported, meanwhile that the Security Council will meet Friday to take up the matter of the two West Bank Arab mayors expelled by Israel — Mayors Fahd Kawasme of Lebanon and Mohammed Milhim of Halhoul.
In another development, Israel complained in a later to Secretary General Kurt Waldheim today of “another attempt by Palestine Liberation Organization terrorists based in Lebanon to perpetrate indiscriminate murder and violence” in Israel.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Yehuda Blum, said in the letter that last weekend PLO “murder squad” passed through the lines of the UN force in south Lebanon and tried to cross into Israel. He said they were spotted by an Israeli patrol and in the ensuing encounter, one terrorist was killed and one Israeli soldier was wounded.
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