UN Urges Israel to Pay Lebanon $1 Billion
The United Nations has issued a statement urging Israel to pay Lebanon for environmental and material destruction incurred during the 2006 conflict between the states. In the aftermath of the Israeli attack on Lebanon, sparked by the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hizbullah, a UN commission ruled in November 2006 that Israel had used “excessive, indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force,” and caused disproportionate damage and suffering. Based on calculations by the World Bank, the UN has decided a sum of $1 billion dollars is owed to Lebanon in compensation for the damage that occurred during the war, particularly the environmental effects of a massive oil spill that polluted two-thirds of Lebanon’s coastline and also affected neighboring nations. The sum is also intended to aid repair of infrastructure and other material damage.
Despite the UN’s report and repeated calls for reparations, Israel has so far refused to comply and has withheld compensation to Lebanon.
The full story was published September 9, 2008.
Stefanie Demetriades
