UN resolution asking ‘Israel’ to pay Lebanon $856.4 M over environmental disaster
NEW YORK—The UN on Thursday asked the occupation state of ‘Israel’ to pay $850 million to Lebanon in compensation for a major oil spill in 2006, which was described as an “environmental disaster.”
The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly with 161 votes in favour of the draft titled “Oil slick on Lebanese shores.”
According to that draft, “the Assembly would request the Government of Israel assume responsibility for prompt and adequate compensation to Lebanon for the damage. It would also request Israel to compensate other countries directly affected by the oil slick, such as Syria, whose shores were partially polluted,” the UN said on its website.
Although the slick affected two-thirds of Lebanon’s coastline and negatively impacted its economy, according to the representative of Guinea, the US said it is disappointed that the UN “continues to take up this unbalanced resolution critical of Israel.”
Israel said the draft text was without merit and had “taken up the Committee’s valuable time and resources for far too long.” Claiming Hezbollah caused the oil slick, he added that “the resolution is based on false premises.”
The slick was created when Israeli jets bombed a power station, releasing about 15,000 tonnes of oil into the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
At its peak, it stretched for 120km (75 miles) along the shore.
In 2006, ‘Israel’ launched a massive air and sea attacks on targets all over Lebanon including civilian targets, then invaded the south of the country.
More than 1,000 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and about 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers, were killed.
Photo: Oil spill-blackened crab on a Lebanon beach after Israel’s attack on the Jiyyah Power Plant, 2006. Source: AFP.
See also:
UNGA: Israel to Pay Lebanon for Jiyyah Attack
UN General Assembly resolutions:
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/RES/61/194
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/RES/62/188
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/RES/63/211
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/RES/64/195
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/RES/65/147
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/RES/66/192
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/RES/67/201
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/RES/68/206
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/RES/69/212
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/RES/71/218
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/RES/72/209
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/RES/73/224
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/RES/74/208
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/RES/75/209
Reports of the Secretary General:
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/62/343
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/63/225
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/64/259
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/65/278
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/66/297
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/67/341
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/68/544
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/69/313
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/70/291
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/71/217
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/72/353
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/73/302
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/74/225
Oil slick on Lebanese shores, A/76/298
International Law Commission, Draft articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts, with commentaries (2001)
