JERUSALEM/LEBANON: ISRAEL SAYS IT WILL OPPOSE RECOMMENDATION BY U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI THAT MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ALLOW RETURN OF PALESTINIAN DEPORTEES

Record ID: 400600

  • Title: JERUSALEM/LEBANON: ISRAEL SAYS IT WILL OPPOSE RECOMMENDATION BY U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI THAT MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ALLOW RETURN OF PALESTINIAN DEPORTEES
  • Date: 25th January 1993
  • Summary: JERUSALEM AND MARJ AZ-ZOHOUR, LEBANON (JANUARY 25 AND 26, 1993) JERUSALEM (JANUARY 26) (REUTV) 1. GV/SVS PERES SPEAKING (ENGLISH) (3 SHOTS) 0.35 2. CU SHAFI SPEAKING (ENGLISH) 1.06 MARJ AZ-ZOHOUR (JANUARY 25) (REUTV-NAJJAR) 3. GVS CAMP/ DEPORTEES CARRYING DRINKING WATER/ COOKING/ WASHING CLOTHES (6 SHOTS) 1.40 4. SC
  • Embargoed: 9th February 1993 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JERUSALEM/ MARJ AZ-ZOHOUR, LEBANON
  • City:
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Reuters ID: LVA333Z18YZIKS0OWPIHMERDRTPV
  • Story Text: Israel said on Tuesday (January 26) that it will oppose a recommendation by United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali that the U.N. Security Council take "whatever measures are required" to allow the return of more than 400 Palestinians deported to Lebanon.

    In a report on Monday, Boutros-Ghali outlined his unsuccessful efforts to convince Israel to comply with Security Council resolution 799, adopted on December 18, which demands the safe return of the deportees, whom Israel accuses of being Moslem fundamentalists. He said he believed Israel's refusal to return the deportees challenged the authority of the Security Council.

    Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said in Jerusalem on Tuesday that Boutros-Ghali had condemned Israel and he implied that the United Nations was applying double standards. Peres said this was because the U.N. resolution made no mention of the fact that Hamas, the radical Moslem fundamentalist group, had killed people and endangered the lives of others.

    Haidar Abdel-Shafi, chief Palestinian negotiator at the Middle East peace talks, said in east Jerusalem that he was "very pleased" at Boutros-Ghali's initiative. He said it was a "scandal" that Israel had not been forced to comply with U.N. resolutions on many occasions.

    The Palestinian deportees urged the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to agree on sanctions against the Jewish state and asked Washington not to veto the step.

    The men expelled by Israel nearly six weeks ago said they were heartened that Boutros-Ghali had recommended the Security Council take "whatever measures are required" to compel Israel to let them return.

    "This report is positive although overdue," said Abdul Aziz al-Rantisi, the leader of the deportees stranded in a south Lebanon no man's land. "We hope the Security Council will take a tough stand towards Israel and implement sanctions.

    "I hope the United States will not sabotage the process by using its power of veto because it would lose its credibility." U.S. ambassador to Israel William Harrop told Israeli army radio on Tuesday that President Bill Clinton was "most unlikely" to allow United Nations sanctions against Israel.


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