The United Nations Security Council approved late Thursday a double-barrelled resolution extending for another six months the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and criticizing Israel for its activities in Lebanon. The vote was 12-0.
The United States, while calling the condemnation of Israel one-sided, voted for it. The Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia abstained and China, as usual, did not participate. China opposes use of UN forces in principle.
The American delegate, Richard Petree, assailed Israel for “contributing” to tensions in Lebanon by failure to cooperate with UNIFIL. He said the U.S. could not accept constant harassment of UNIFIL troops by Christian militia supplied and supported by Israel. But he also said the Arab world must help to end Palestinian “extremist” attacks against Israel. The U.S. “deplores equally” acts of violence and terrorism “directed indiscriminately against Israeli citizens,” he said. Yehuda Blum, Israel’s delegate, denounced the “blatant bias” of the resolution’s anti-Israel portions.
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