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U.S. Department of State
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Press Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman
January 15, 1999
On Behalf of the Chairman of the Monitoring Group The Monitoring Group met on January 11-14, 1999, at the UNIFIL Headquarters compound in Naqura, Lebanon to consider sixteen complaints of violation of the April 26, 1996 Understanding, ten filed by Lebanon and six filed by Israel.
With regard to the two Lebanese complaints concerning the demolition of civilian houses in Arnoun, the Monitoring Group acknowledged that on December 27, 1998, following the discovery of several side-bombs, missiles, a machine gun, and other munitions in one house, seven uninhabited houses were destroyed by Israel or those cooperating with it. In addition, the Group acknowledged that on January 7, 1999, another sixteen uninhabited houses in the same village were destroyed by those same forces following two side-bomb attacks against them on a road near the houses. The Israeli delegate stated that under the circumstances, their action was a legitimate military move and that there were differing views concerning the status of these houses. The Lebanese delegate stated that the destruction of the houses was retaliatory and unacceptable. Keeping in mind its previous decisions, the Monitoring Group concluded that demolition actions against civilian property are in violation of the Understanding. The Monitoring Group added that this conclusion, however, does not invalidate the concerns and positions of the parties regarding the use of civilian property in military operations. The Monitoring Group reiterated that the parties should take their concerns to the Group rather than take actions impacting on civilians or civilian property. Given the sensitivity of this issue, the Monitoring Group urgently called on Lebanon and Israel not to violate the provisions of the Understanding concerning the use and protection of civilian property in military situations.
With regard to the two Israeli complaints concerning the firing of six mortar rounds on December 29, 1998 and as many as thirty rounds on January 4, 1999 by a Lebanese armed group from the area of Majdel-Zoun, there was no agreement on whether the launching site was in a civilian populated area. The Monitoring Group stressed the importance of ensuring that civilian lives and property are not put at risk in the course of military operations and, to this end, urged those launching attacks, to err on the side of caution in selecting firing sites where there could be a risk of civilian casualties and/or property damage as a result of counter-fire.
The Monitoring Group acknowledged that on January 3, 1999, four women and two children were injured when their mud-brick house in Janta collapsed on them as a result of the shock-wave from an Israeli air attack on a military target several hundred meters away. While the location of the attacked target was at what would normally be considered a safe distance, based on the principle that the side launching an attack bears responsibility for the consequences of its military actions, the Monitoring Group concluded that the injury to the civilians was an unintentional violation of the Understanding.
With regard to the Lebanese complaint concerning Chebaa, the Group acknowledged that on January 7, 1999, some 25 civilians from two families were evicted from their homes in Chebaa by Israel or those cooperating with it. At the same time, the Monitoring Group noted that there are differing views on whether expulsion of civilians falls within the purview of the Understanding. The Monitoring Group agreed that all parties should avoid actions against civilians which could lead to or be considered violations of the Understanding.
The Monitoring Group acknowledged that on January 8, 1999, during a military operation against a Lebanese armed group, one 130mm round fired by Israel or those cooperating with it damaged the power plant near Bissri, in violation of the Understanding. The Monitoring Group urged Israel to take additional precautions to assume that attacks launched by its side do not result in civilian injuries or property damage.
The Monitoring Group acknowledged that on January 8, 1999, during the course of a military operation, a 60-year old civilian walking along a road in the vicinity of Markaba, was killed by a shell fired y a Lebanese armed group. Based on the principle that the side launching an attack bears responsibility for the consequences of its military actions, the Monitoring Group concluded that the death of the civilian was an unintentional violation of the Understanding.
The Monitoring Group acknowledged that on January 8, 1999, during the course of a large-scale attack launched by a Lebanese armed group, one round fell on the Israeli side of the Israeli-built fence and two rounds impacted some 25 km into Israel near the village of Shomera, in violation of the Understanding. With respect to the Israeli complaint concerning the January 8, 1999, shelling damage in Ramia and Hula, the Monitoring Group acknowledged that during the same military action involving Shomera, two rounds were fired by a Lebanese armed group, damaging one house in Ramia and one house in Hula, in violation of the Understanding. The Monitoring Group urged Lebanon to exercise greater caution to ensure attacks are conducted in conformity with the provisions of the Understanding.
With respect to the Lebanese complaints concerning Kfar Hata, the Monitoring Group noted that the Israeli delegation have no information on the firing on January 9, 1999 of any 155mm rounds by its side at the time or place indicated by the Lebanese delegation.
With regard to the incident in Nabatieh-el-Fowka, the Monitoring Group acknowledged that on January 10, 1999, several 12.7mm machine gun rounds were fired by Israel or those cooperating with it, in the direction of St. Anthony’s Convent, damaging two cars near the convent, in violation of the Understanding. The Monitoring Group acknowledged that on January 10, 1999, several 81mm and 120mm rounds were fired by Israel or those cooperating with it, in the direction of Aarab Salim, and that one of these rounds damaged a house, in violation of the Understanding. The Monitoring Group acknowledged that on January 10, 1999, following an attack by a Lebanese armed group, twenty 120mm rounds as well as several tank rounds were fired toward Zellaya by Israel or those cooperating with it, damaging two houses, severing a high-tension electric cable, and damaging the village water pipe, in violation of the Understanding. The Monitoring Group urged Israel to exercise greater caution to ensure that attacks launched by its side do not result in civilian injuries or property damage.
With regard to the Israeli and Lebanese complaints involving the villages of Rum, Boslaya and Kfar-Falous, the Monitoring Group acknowledged that on January 11, 1999, a large number of 120mm mortar rounds were fired by a Lebanese Armed Group at the Rum military position, which is located inside a civilian populated area. A number of these shells impacted in the village, damaging six houses, a mosque, and six cars, in violation of the Understanding. The Monitoring Group also acknowledged that, following this attack, a number of 155, 130 and 120mm rounds were counter-fired by Israel or those cooperating with it, damaging two houses in Boslaya and killing 8 goats in a open area near the village of Kfar-Falous, in violation of the Understanding. The Monitoring Group urged the parties to take more effective precautions to ensure their military practices and initiatives are in strict conformity with the provisions of the Understanding.
The Monitoring Group expressed its great appreciation to UNIFIL for providing facilities and support for the meeting.
[end of document]
