Council session on southern Lebanon.

• Position: United Nations Security Council

Council session on southern Lebanon

The Security Council had met from l5 to l8 January after Lebanon requested it consider what it described as "continuing acts of aggression and abusive practices of the Israeli occupying forces in Lebanon."

Algeria, Argentina, Nepal, Senegal, Yugoslavia and Zambia submitted a text (S/19434) which, in addition to deploring Israeli "attacks", would have had the Council ask Israel to "cease all acts of encroachment of land, construction of roads and setting up of fences that violate the border, and any attempts to occupy or change the status of Lebanese territory or to impede the return of the effective authority of the Government of Lebanon in sovereign Lebanese territory".

The body would also have reaffirmed previous calls for strict respect for Lebanon's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized boundaries, and withdrawal of Israeli forces.

The vote on the text was 13 to 1, with the United Kingdom abstaining.

In explaining the veto, Vernon Walters of the United States said his country's support for Lebanon's independence remained strong, but resolutions on south Lebanon "can do no good until this body acknowledges the cyclical nature of the violence we seek to end". Reviewing the situation in southern Lebanon without "an attendant concern for the security of northern Israel will have no consequence".

Sir Crispin Tickell of the United Kingdom said his nation deplored Israel's actions in southern Lebanon, but the omission of any reference to the general background of violence and counter-violence made the draft unbalanced and incomplete.

In presenting his case to the Council, Rachid Fakhoury of Lebanon said Israel's "stepped up inhuman practices and acts of aggression" had claimed increasing numbers of victims among civilians and had caused widespread...