Oil slick on Lebanese shores

Condemnatory

Yes

Analysis

• This one-sided resolution criticizes Israel for creating an environmental disaster in Lebanon by bombing Lebanese oil tanks in its summer 2006 war with Lebanon and calls on Israel to compensate Lebanon and other affected countries. At the same time, the resolution completely ignores Hezbollah's role in launching hostilities in 2006, firing 4,000 rockets and burning 500,000 trees in Northern Israel. It further ignores Lebanon's non-compliance with Security Council resolutions on dismantling Hezbollah and singles out Israel as the only country to be censured under the Sustainable Development agenda item.

Main Sponsors

Group of 77 and China

Vote

Yes - 167, No - 9, Abstain - 6, Absent - 11

See Full Vote

Key Praise

None

Key Criticism

• "Noting with great concern the environmental disaster caused by the destruction by the Israeli Air Force on 15 July 2006 of the oil storage tanks in the direct vicinity of Jiyah electric power plant in Lebanon, resulting in an oil slick that covered the entirety of the Lebanese coastline, extended to the Syrian coastline and hindered efforts to achieve sustainable development..."
• "Noting that the Secretary-General expressed grave concern at the lack of any acknowledgement on the part of the Government of Israel of its responsibilities vis-a-vis reparations and compensation to the Government and people of Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic affected by the oil spill."
• "Reiterates, for the nineteenth consecutive year, its deep concern about the adverse implications of the destruction by the Israeli Air Force of the oil storage tanks in the direct vicinity of the Lebanese Jiyah electric power plant for the achievement of sustainable development in Lebanon."
• "Reiterates its request in this regard to the Government of Israel to assume responsibility for prompt and adequate compensation to the Government of Lebanon for the aforementioned damage and to other countries directly affected by the oil slick, such as the Syrian Arab Republic, whose shores have been partially polluted..."