Al Arabiya
Saturday, 20 December 2014
The U.N. General Assembly on Friday has adopted a resolution urging Israel to pay Lebanon over $850 million in damages for causing an “environmental disaster” during the July 2006 war.
As many as 170 countries voted in favor of the resolution, three abstained, and six countries: Israel, the United States, Canada, Australia, Micronesia and Marshall Islands voted “no.”
General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding but they do reflect world opinion. The United Nations has previously requested that Israel compensate Lebanon, but this is the first time that a monetary figure was set.
The resolution says “the environmental disaster” caused by the destruction of the tanks resulted in an oil slick that covered the entire Lebanese coastline and extended to the Syrian coastline, causing extensive pollution.
Israel’s U.N. Mission said in a statement late Friday that the resolution is biased against Israel.
“Israel Immediately responded to the oil slick incident by cooperating closely with the United Nations Environment Program, as well as other U.N. agencies and NGOs, addressing the environmental situation along the coast of Lebanon,” the statement reads. “This resolution has long outlived the effects of the oil slick, and serves no purpose other than to contribute to institutionalizing an anti-Israel agenda at the U.N..”
The assembly acknowledged the conclusions in an August report by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that studies show the value of damage to Lebanon amounted to $856.4 million in 2014. It asked Israel to provide “prompt and adequate compensation.”
The assembly also asked Ban to urge U.N. bodies and other organizations involved in the initial assessment to conduct a further study, building on the work conducted by the World Bank, to measure and quantify the environmental damage sustained by neighboring countries.
The resolution notes that “the secretary-general expressed grave concern at the lack of any acknowledgment on the part of the government of Israel of its responsibilities vis-a-vis reparations and compensation” to Lebanon and Syria for the oil spill.
It notes that Ban concluded that the spill is not covered by any international oil spill compensation funds and therefore recognizes “that further consideration needs to be given to the option of security the relevant compensation from the government of Israel.”
Lebanon’s U.N. Ambassador Nawaf Salam said his country considers the resolution to be “major progress” because it puts forward a figure for compensation, acknowledges the conclusions of the secretary-general’s report, and reaffirms the General Assembly’s commitment to justice.
“We affirm that Lebanon will continue to mobilize all resources and resort to all legal means to see that this resolution is fully implemented, and that the specified compensation is paid promptly,” Salam said.
[With AP]
Last Update: Saturday, 20 December 2014 KSA 08:40 – GMT 05:40
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/12/20/UN-asks-Israel-to-pay-Lebanon-850-mln-for-oil-spill.html
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Maan
UN asks Israel to pay Lebanon $856 million for 2006 oil spill
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) — Israel was asked by the UN General Assembly on Friday to compensate Lebanon for $856.4 million in oil spill damages it caused during its 2006 war with Hezbollah.
The non-binding vote, which passed 170-6, asks Israel to offer “prompt and adequate compensation” to Lebanon and other countries affected by the oil spill’s pollution.
In a statement, Israel condemned the resolution as biased against the nation, Israeli media reported.
The oil spill was caused by Israel’s air force when it bombed oil tanks near a coastal Lebanese power plant during the fierce month-long offensive against Hezbollah fighters that killed nearly 1,200 Lebanese civilians as well.
The attack flooded the Mediterranean coastline with 15,000 tons of oil, according to the United Nations.
The adopted resolution cited $856.4 million (700 million euros) in damages caused by the oil spill, accounting for inflation of a October 2007 estimate by the United Nations Secretary General that reported the spill caused $729 million in damage.
Lebanon bore the brunt of the spill, but the Syrian coast and other Mediterranean countries have suffered as well, the UN said.
The oil slick made by the spill “has had serious implications for livelihoods and the economy of Lebanon,” the resolution said.
The UN asked Lebanon to continue clean-up efforts and the international community to increase funding for its environmental restoration.
The US, Australia, Canada and Israel were among the six states that voted against the UN text.
Ma’an staff contributed to this report.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=748555
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Daily Star
UN vote over Lebanon oil slick a ‘wish come true’: Environment Minister
BEIRUT: Environment Minister Mohammad Machnouk said the U.N. resolution calling on Israel to pay compensation to Lebanon over a major oil slick in 2006 was one wish that had come true among 22 made on National Environment Day last month.
In comments he made at a ministry gathering to mark the end of the year, Machnouk said the U.N. decision was “a great victory for justice, rights and environment.”
”We had made 22 wishes for the new year, and one of them was realized through the U.N. General Assembly’s resolution that demands Israel pay Lebanon $856.4 million in compensation for the oil pollution disaster it had caused during its aggression,” Machnouk said in the comments published Monday.
Lebanon marks National Environment day on Nov. 16 each year.
He vowed that the Cabinet will continue efforts to implement the resolution to force Israel to meet its financial compensation obligations.
But the resolution, which passed Friday with a 170-6 vote, is non-binding, and Israel said it will not pay.
The resolution was opposed by Israel, the United States, Canada, Australia, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. The three countries that abstained from voting were Cameroon, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.
Machnouk also wished for a quick approval in Cabinet of the solid waste management plan “in order to turn a new page in Lebanon’s environmental record.”
Machnouk listed among the aspired achievements he hopes to seal in the near future, a roadmap for preventing pollution of Qaraoun Lake in the Bekaa, inauguration of 11 air pollution monitoring stations, and a plan for combating deforestation.
– See more at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Dec-22/281922-un-vote-over-lebanon-oil-slick-a-wish-come-true-environment-minister.ashx#sthash.sxOInxrW.dpuf
Lebanon PM hails UN vote over Israeli compensation
BEIRUT: Prime Minister Tammam Salam hailed the United Nations resolution calling on Israel to pay Lebanon $856.4 million in compensation for the oil slick that resulted from the striking of a power plant during the July 2006 war.
In a statement released Saturday evening, one day after the U.N. General Assembly voted 170-6 in favor of the resolution, Salam said the news was a “huge political and diplomatic victory for Lebanon.”
The U.N. has previously requested that Israel compensate Lebanon for the slick, but this was the first time that a monetary figure was set. The $856.4 million are the compensation for an oil slick that devastated Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast after Israel jets struck a power plant in Jiyyeh, south Lebanon.
“We congratulate all the Lebanese for this achievement that came as the fruit of persistent efforts over the years by the Lebanese diplomacy represented by our permanent delegation at the U.N.,” Salam said.
The premier hoped that the decision would be the first of many actions by the international community to hold Israel accountable for “the war crimes it commits.”
“Lebanon calls on the international community to force Israel to stop its various violations of Lebanese sovereignty, and to cooperate with the peacekeeping troops to demarcate what is left of the borders and retreat from the Shebaa Farms, Kfarshouba Hills and the north of the Ghajar village,” Salam said.
The U.N. resolution was opposed by Israel, the United States, Canada, Australia, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.
Three countries abstained from voting, including Cameroon, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.
The resolution noted that “the secretary-general expressed grave concern at the lack of any acknowledgment on the part of the government of Israel of its responsibilities vis-a-vis reparations and compensation” to Lebanon and Syria for the oil spill.
Israel’s delegation to the U.N. condemned the decision, saying it is biased and serves an “anti-Israel” agenda. delegation claimed Israel had “immediately” responded to the oil slick “incident” by “closely cooperating” with the United Nations Environment Program and other organizations.
Although not binding, the General Assembly’s resolutions relatively reflect the international public opinion concerning the matter. Only the Security Council resolutions are binding for all members of the U.N.
– See more at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Dec-21/281789-lebanon-pm-hails-un-vote-over-israeli-compensation.ashx#sthash.vV50rj3B.dpuf
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YNET
Non-binding resolution says ‘environmental disaster’ caused by destruction of oil tanks in IAF strike during 2006 Second Lebanon War resulted in an oil slick that covered the entire Lebanese coastline and extended to the Syrian coastline.
Associated Press
Published: 12.20.14, 08:36 / Israel News
UNITED NATIONS – The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution Friday asking Israel to pay Lebanon over $850 million in damages for an oil spill caused by an Israel Air Force attack on oil storage tanks during its war with Hezbollah in July 2006.
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The assembly voted 170-6 in favor of the resolution, with three abstentions. Israel, the United States, Canada, Australia, Micronesia and Marshall Islands voted “no.”
General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding but they do reflect world opinion.
The UN General Assembly (Photo: AP)
The UN General Assembly (Photo: AP)
The resolution says “the environmental disaster” caused by the destruction of the tanks resulted in an oil slick that covered the entire Lebanese coastline and extended to the Syrian coastline, causing extensive pollution.
Israel’s UN Mission said in a statement late Friday that the resolution is biased against Israel.
“Israel Immediately responded to the oil slick incident by cooperating closely with the United Nations Environment Program, as well as other UN agencies and NGOs, addressing the environmental situation along the coast of Lebanon,” the statement reads. “This resolution has long outlived the effects of the oil slick, and serves no purpose other than to contribute to institutionalizing an anti-Israel agenda at the UN.”
The assembly acknowledged the conclusions in an August report by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that studies show the value of damage to Lebanon amounted to $856.4 million in 2014. It asked Israel to provide “prompt and adequate compensation.”
The assembly also asked Ban to urge UN bodies and other organizations involved in the initial assessment to conduct a further study, building on the work conducted by the World Bank, to measure and quantify the environmental damage sustained by neighboring countries.
The resolution notes that “the secretary-general expressed grave concern at the lack of any acknowledgment on the part of the government of Israel of its responsibilities vis-a-vis reparations and compensation” to Lebanon and Syria for the oil spill.
It notes that Ban concluded that the spill is not covered by any international oil spill compensation funds and therefore recognizes “that further consideration needs to be given to the option of security the relevant compensation from the government of Israel.”
Lebanon’s UN Ambassador Nawaf Salam said his country considers the resolution to be “major progress” because it puts forward a figure for compensation, acknowledges the conclusions of the secretary-general’s report, and reaffirms the General Assembly’s commitment to justice.
“We affirm that Lebanon will continue to mobilize all resources and resort to all legal means to see that this resolution is fully implemented, and that the specified compensation is paid promptly.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4605670,00.html