United Nations

S/2010/468
Distr.: General 9 September 2010 Original: English

Security Council

Identical letters dated 7 September 2010 from the representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council
I write to you regarding another serious violation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) that occurred on Friday, 3 September 2010, when a series of explosions ripped through a weapons cache in Shehabiyya, a village located 15 kilometres east of the town of Tyre, Lebanon. The explosions -- which started at approximately 12.45 local time -- took place in a civilian house on the outskirts of the village and, according to reports, caused the injury of five civilians. The house in question was, in fact, the house of a Hezbullah operative by the name of Wisam Saloum, and was used to hold a Hezbullah arms cache. In the aftermath of the explosions, Hezbullah operatives sealed off the area and delayed the deployment of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to conduct an investigation into the circumstances of the incidents. This delay was used by Hezbullah operatives to remove evidence of their illicit activity before UNIFIL was permitted to inspect the area. As shown in available video footage taken by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Hezbullah operatives used trucks and cars to take away evidence from the scene to nearby villages within the area under the UNIFIL area of operation in the first stage, and to villages outside that area in the second stage. Although Lebanese Armed Forces were present at the scene, no action to investigate the incidents or to prevent the removal of evidence was taken by them. This severe incident in Shehabiyya is the third of its kind in the course of 14 months. It follows two similar explosions in the village of Khirbat Salim (on 14 July 2009) and in the village of Tayr Filsi (on 12 October 2009). In all incidents UNIFIL was delayed from arriving at the scene. The smuggling and presence of such weapons stands in direct contravention of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006), as is the obstruction of UNIFIL movement following the explosions. The Shehabiyya explosions, along with their predecessors, verify Israel's repeated claims made since the adoption of resolution 1701 (2006) that Hezbullah continues to build its military infrastructure throughout Lebanon, including south of the Litani River. As Israel mentioned in many previous letters and statements to the Secretary-General and the Security Council -- including in Israel's most recent statement to the Security Council, on 30 August 2010 (see S/PV.6375), following the adoption of Security Council resolution 1937 (2010) -- Hezbullah adapted its 10-53072 (E) 150910

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modus operandi by placing most of its arsenal in civilian villages and using houses as bunkers and arms depots. Such actions on the part of Hezbullah are clear violations of resolution 1701 (2006) and gravely endanger the stability of the region. Furthermore, it is extremely alarming that Hezbullah intentionally places its weapons in close proximity to civilians, and thus endangers the local Lebanese civilian population. The explosions in Shehabiyya, coupled with Hezbullah's stated intention to maintain and build its terrorist arsenal, should be a cause for grave concern. The fact that Hezbullah seeks to reconstitute itself south of the Litani River while embedding itself into the civilian population only heightens this concern. In this regard, it is important to note that this egregious incident took place only four days after the adoption of resolution 1937 (2010), which reaffirms once again the Security Council's call for "the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani River of an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Government of Lebanon and UNIFIL". Israel wishes to reiterate that the policy of the Lebanese Armed Forces to turn a blind eye to Hezbullah's activities, including the removal of evidence and the delaying of the deployment of UNIFIL, is a matter of grave concern. It reflects, as it did in the Khirbat Salim and Tayr Filsi incidents, a very worrisome pattern. I wish to take this opportunity to request a copy of the findings of the investigation conducted by UNIFIL into the 3 September explosions as soon as possible. I should be grateful if you would have the present letter distributed as a document of the Security Council. (Signed) Meron Reuben Ambassador

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