Lebanon’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations sent a formal letter on Saturday to the President of the Security Council and the UN Secretary-General.
The letter responded to an Israeli submission dated September 1, 2024, which expressed concerns about Hezbollah’s growing presence and military activities in southern Lebanon, claiming these actions violate Security Council Resolution 1701.
In its letter, Israel accused Lebanon of failing to disarm Hezbollah and control its southern border, arguing that Hezbollah’s cross-border attacks undermine the security of both Israeli and Lebanese civilians. The letter called for international accountability for Lebanon regarding what Israel perceives as breaches of the resolution.
In response, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdallah Bou Habib stated, “The gateway to a permanent solution lies in the full and comprehensive implementation of Resolution 1701 in all its provisions, not selectively, as the other party attempts.”
Lebanon’s letter clarified that the full implementation of Resolution 1701 requires Israel’s withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territories, halting its violations of Lebanese sovereignty, and its targeting of Lebanese civilians and civilian infrastructure.
It also emphasizes the importance of engaging in the process of delineating Lebanon’s southern land borders, as recognized internationally and reaffirmed in the 1949 Armistice Agreement, under the supervision and auspices of the United Nations.
Lebanon urged the Security Council and the international community to pressure Israel into fully complying with Resolution 1701, including ceasing its attacks.
Furthermore, the Lebanese authorities reaffirmed their commitment to international law and highlighted the crucial role of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in helping extend Lebanese authority over its entire territory by strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces.
