LEBANON MONITORING COMMITTEE
(Communicated by the IDF Spokesman)
January 7, 1997
Early this morning the Monitoring Group for the implementation of the
understandings achieved following Operation Grapes of Wrath completed its
deliberation on the three complaints presented by Israel and the three
complaints presented by Lebanon concerning recent events. The Monitoring
Group recognized that:
a. The Hizbullah organization fired at IDF and SLA forces from the
Barashit village.
b. The Hizbullah activated an explosive device from within the populated
region of the village of Markaba in Sourthern Lebanon. It has lately been
revealed that a Lebanese woman who resided in the village was wounded by
this explosion.
The Monitoring Group called on all sides to adhere to the understandings
and to desist from any activity which may endanger the lives of civilians
(such as the activation of explosive devices in populated areas). Upon
conclusion of its first session of 1997, the Monitoring Group noted that
its continued work has been and will be instrumental in reducing dangers
to civilians. During the deliberations, the exchanges of fire continued in
the Sujud and Aklim al-Tufih region. The Israeli delegation proposed that
the representatives of all sides present act to encourage an immediate
cease-fire and defuse the tension in the area. This proposal, which was
supported by the French chairman and his American colleague, was opposed
by the Lebanese delegation.
January 12, 1997
The Monitoring Group for the implementation of the understandings achieved
following Operation Grapes of Wrath met on 10 January at UNIFIL
headquarters in Nakoura to discuss a complaint lodged by Israel concerning
the Katyusha rocket fired into the western Galilee on Thursday, 8 January
from the El-Kaleila region in Lebanon. The Monitoring Group affirmed that
this act, which constituted a violation of the Understandings, was worthy
of condemnation. The Group has decreed that Lebanon, which is committed to
the Understandings, is obligated to implement them. The Monitoring Group
viewed positively the steps already taken and encourages the government of
Lebanon to increase its efforts in preventing recurrences of such
incidents. The Group emphasized once more the commitment of all sides to
obey the understandings in order to ensure the security of civilians. Both
the Lebanese and Syrian delegations stressed that they view with gravity
the firing of rockets from Lebanese territory into Israel and noted that
Lebanese authorities already arrested a number of suspects.