Jerusalem, 12 December 1996
FOLLOW-UP COMMITTEE FOR SUPERVISION OF GRAPES OF WRATH UNDERSTANDINGS
(Communicated in English by the IDF Spokesman's Unit)
The follow-up committee for supervising the "Grapes of Wrath"
understandings, today, (Thursday) 12.12.96, concluded its discussions on
the complaint Lebanon filed on 07.12.96.
In its final report, the committee expressed regrets over the injury of
civilians and damage done to property, emphasizing that both sides are
committed to the understandings, and must be cautious when operating near
settled areas.
The committee did not accept Lebanon's complaint regarding Israeli
artillery fire towards the village of Tirnit. It concluded that the fire
was in response to a road-side bomb and missiles fired towards an IDF
patrol. During the shelling, one tank shell hit the village of Tirnit and
moderately injured six civilians.
The committee hopes that both sides will take all necessary measures to
avoid similar incidents in the future.
The committee held discussions for four days, during which they toured the
area in order to verify information.