Annan Demands Immediate End To Israel-Hizballah Fighting

Annan Demands Immediate End To Israel-Hizballah Fighting

UNITED NATIONS, July 20, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called for an immediate end to "indiscriminate and disproportionate" violence between Israeli and Hizballah forces to stop "further loss of innocent life and the infliction of further suffering."

Annan told the Security Council that the civilians living in southern Lebanon and northern Israel can't wait for an end to the fighting.

"What is most urgently needed is an immediate cessation of hostilities for three vital reasons: first, to prevent further loss of innocent life and the infliction of further suffering; second, to allow full humanitarian access to those in need; and third, to give diplomacy a chance to work out a practical package of actions that would provide a lasting solution to the current crisis," he said.

But because of the difficulty of establishing a sustainable cease-fire immediately, Annan sought instead only a temporary cessation in hostilities.

Lebanon The Victim

The secretary-general emphasized that the government of Lebanon had no part in starting the fighting, which began when a Hizballah unit crossed into northern Israel and captured two Israeli soldiers.

Annan said the responsibility for starting the conflict rests squarely with Hizballah, whose "provocative attack on July 12 was a trigger of this crisis."

"It is clear that the Lebanese government had no advance knowledge of this attack," he continued. "Whatever other agendas they may serve Hizballah's actions which it portrays as defending Palestinian and Lebanese interests in fact do neither. On the contrary, they hold an entire nation [Lebanon] hostage [and] set back prospects for negotiation of a comprehensive Middle East peace."

The secretary-general said that while Israel had a right to defend its sovereignty, it shares blame for the carnage.

"Israel states that it has no quarrel with the government or the people of Lebanon and that it is taking extreme precautions to avoid harm to them," he said. "Yet, a number of its actions have hurt and killed Lebanese civilians and military personnel and caused great damage to infrastructure. While Hizballah's actions are deplorable -- and as I've said Israel has a right to defend itself -- the excessive use of force is to be condemned."

Annan said Israel has only damaged its own cause. Its operations may be weakening Hizballah militarily, he said, but it is also weakening the Lebanese government.

Immediate Action Needed

The secretary-general called for several steps to be taken immediately. First, he said, Hizballah must return the captured Israeli soldiers to their homeland. Second, the UN force in Lebanon must be expanded to keep the peace and help Lebanon improve its army.

Annan said Gaza shouldn't be left out of the picture, given Israel's military offensive there as well. "I am gravely concerned about Gaza," he said. "Palestinians there are suffering deeply with well over a hundred -- many of them civilians -- killed in the last month alone."

After Annan's remarks, Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman made it clear that his country wouldn't abide by the secretary-general's call for restraint.

"We will continue to do what we are continuing in Lebanon not just to protect Israel and not just to bring our boys home, but to make sure that this cancerous growth in the heart of Lebanon is excised," he said.

Earlier, the European Union called for a cease-fire in Lebanon, and offered a $12.5 million aid package for civilians affected by the conflict.

Russia also again called today for an immediate cease-fire, saying the Israeli offensive has gone "far beyond" an antiterrorist operation.

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Annan Demands Immediate End To Israel-Hizballah Fighting