Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Bou Habib warned the UN Security Council of further escalation in the Middle East. He accused Israel of terrorism. The country must stop its attacks or the world will witness a “big bang”.
Lebanon has accused Israel of “terrorism” at the UN Security Council after a mass explosion of pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to Hezbollah militants.
The explosions, which killed 37 people and injured nearly 3,000 in two waves on Tuesday and Wednesday, were “a strike in the form of warfare, its brutality and terror,” Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib told an emergency meeting of the body. Victims include not only Hezbollah members but also civilians such as children.
An explosion that would “push us back into the dark ages.”
He described Israel as a “rogue country”. The explosions were triggered “regardless of who was carrying them or who was around them.” In between, he held up to the congregation an image that appeared to show a bloody hand with severed fingers.
Bou Habib warned of the danger of a major war. “If this council forces Israel to stop its occupation,” Bou Habib told the UN Security Council in New York, “or we will be silent witnesses to the great explosion that is on the horizon today.” Before it’s too late, he said, “This explosion will spare neither East nor West and plunge us back into the Dark Ages.” You must understand.”
Israel wants to target terrorists
Israel has yet to publicly acknowledge the attacks. It is clear that Israel is not abiding by international law and humanitarian law, Bou Habib continued. “When Israel commits such acts, we see only fearful remorse that encourages Israel to ignore international resolutions, not one of which has been enforced against Israel since 1948.” Israel has become a rogue state.
Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, declined to comment on the communications device blasts in Lebanon. “But I can say we will do everything we can to target these terrorists,” he said. Israel has no intention of starting a war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, but we can’t afford to continue this, Danon said. His country wanted a diplomatic solution and wanted to “prevent” further escalation.
UN Ambassador: Find a solution together
Danon asserted that Hezbollah had fired more than 8,000 rockets at Israel since a terrorist attack by Islamist Hamas a year ago. Dozens of people were killed and tens of thousands displaced.
Danon accused Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib of not even mentioning Hezbollah by name in his speech to the Security Council. “You have allowed a terrorist organization to establish a state within your state, bringing destruction to your own people. Instead of blaming us, your peaceful neighbors, you should now take action to contain Hezbollah,” the diplomat said. Danon insisted that Lebanon and its government were not the problem with the conflict. If we unite we can find a solution. But the problem is Hezbollah.
Turk: Pager blasts Contrary to international law
UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Dürk described the communications device explosions as a violation of international humanitarian law at the Security Council. It “prohibits the use of snares in the form of innocuous hand-held objects,” Turk said.
“The use of violence to spread fear and terror among civilians is a war crime.” He was “horrified by the scale and impact of the attacks.” The human rights commissioner spoke of a “new standard of warfare” when civilian equipment is misused as weapons. What is needed now is an independent and transparent investigation into who is responsible for these attacks.
Russia speaks of a “barbaric attack”.
US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood called on all actors in the region to refrain from further escalation. The US government will do everything to find a diplomatic solution. However, Israel must defend itself against Hezbollah’s constant rocket attacks.
“Israel has the right to defend itself against Hezbollah. No member of this council will tolerate the terrorist organization’s daily rocket attacks on its borders and the displacement of tens of thousands of its citizens,” Wood said.
Great Britain and France asserted Israel’s right to self-defense and called on Hezbollah to stop rocket attacks on Israel and withdraw from the border area. In contrast, China and Russia condemned Israel’s actions. Russia’s UN envoy said his country views the “barbaric attack” as a terrorist attack. And China’s UN ambassador has called on Western countries to prevent Israel from such future attacks.
“Calculations of Israel and Hezbollah will not change”
“Israel has dealt Hezbollah a very strong psychological and tactical blow that could be devastating,” Fawaz Gerges, a Middle East expert and professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, told the Wall Street Journal. However, this week’s attacks will not change the strategic calculus between Hezbollah and Israel. “Anyone who knows Hezbollah from the inside will tell you that these attacks will harden Hezbollah’s position and make it more determined to resist and continue on its path,” he said.
Matthew Levitt of the Washington Institute think tank told the Wall Street Journal that Israel wants to neutralize Hezbollah’s ability to wage war by attacking key personnel, telecommunications networks and weapons systems. He envisioned many such attacks against large warships and long-range missiles carrying precision-guided munitions.
“It’s more than just a message,” Levitt said. “It must pull the rug out from under Hezbollah’s military capabilities and ensure that it no longer poses the threat it has been particularly threatening over the past eleven months and for much longer.”
With information from Martin Ganslmeier
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