Human rights situation in southern Lebanon and west Bekaa
- Document source:
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Date:
23 April 1999
The Commission on Human Rights,
Gravely concerned at the persistent practices of the Israeli occupation forces in southern Lebanon and west Bekaa, which constitute a violation of the principles of international law regarding the protection of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as a grave violation of the relevant provisions of international humanitarian law as contained in the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and the Fourth Hague Convention of 1907,
Reiterating its deep regret at the failure of Israel to implement Security Council resolution 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978,
Reminding all parties concerned to abide by the April 1996 Understanding, Censuring the Israeli attacks, in southern Lebanon and west Bekaa, which cause a large number of deaths and injuries among civilians, displace families and destroy dwellings and properties,
Reaffirming that the continued occupation and practices of the Israeli forces constitute a violation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and of the conventions in force on this matter,
Hoping that the efforts made in order to implement Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and to achieve peace in the Middle East will put an end to the violations of human rights that are being committed in the zone in southern Lebanon and west Bekaa occupied by Israel and that the peace negotiations will be resumed with a view to reaching a settlement of the Middle East conflict and achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region,
Gravely concerned at the persistent detention by Israel of many Lebanese civilians, among whom are minors, women and the elderly, in the detention centre of Khiyam, and at the death of some detainees as a result of ill-treatment and torture,
Expressing its indignation at the ruling handed down on 4 March 1998 by the Israeli Supreme Court permitting the Israeli authorities to retain Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons without trial and to hold them as hostages and for bargaining purposes and to renew their incommunicado detention, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the principles of human rights,
Reaffirming its resolution 1998/62 of 21 April 1998, and expressing its deep regret at the failure of Israel to implement this resolution,
1. Deplores the continued Israeli violations of human rights in the occupied zone in southern Lebanon and west Bekaa, demonstrated in particular by the abduction and arbitrary detention of civilians, the destruction of their dwellings, the confiscation of their property, the expulsion from their land, the bombardment of villages and civilian areas, and other practices violating human rights;
2. Calls upon Israel to put an immediate end to such practices, in air raids and the use of prohibited weapons, and to implement Security Council resolution 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 requiring Israel's immediate, total and unconditional withdrawal from all Lebanese Territories and respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Lebanon;
3. Also calls upon the Government of Israel, the occupying Power of territories in southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa, to comply with the Geneva Conventions of 1949, in particular the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War;
4. Further calls upon the Government of Israel, the occupying Power of territories in southern Lebanon and west Bekaa, to refrain from holding the abducted Lebanese citizens incarcerated in its prisons as hostages for bargaining purposes, and to release them immediately as well as other persons arbitrarily detained in prisons and detention centres in the occupied territories in Lebanon, in violation of all the Geneva Conventions and other provisions of international law;
5. Affirms the obligation for Israel, the occupying Power of territories in southern Lebanon and west Bekaa, to commit itself to allowing the International Committee of the Red Cross and the families of the detainees to intensify their visits, as well as to allowing other international humanitarian organizations to visit the detainees and to verify their sanitary and humanitarian conditions and, in particular, the circumstances which led to the death of some of them as a result of ill-treatment or acts of torture;
6. Requests the Secretary-General:
(a) To bring the present resolution to the attention of the Government of Israel and to invite it to provide information concerning the extent of its implementation thereof;
(b) To report to the General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session and to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-sixth session on the results of his efforts in this regard;
7. Decides to continue its consideration of the situation of human rights in southern Lebanon and west Bekaa at its fifty-sixth session.
51st meeting
23 April 1999
[Adopted by a roll-call vote of 49 votes to 1, with 3 abstentions. See chap. IX.]
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