Letter dated 9 November 2006 from the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General


	I have the honour to transmit herewith the letter dated 9 November 2006 from Manouchehr Motaki, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, addressed to you, on the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people (see annex).
	I should be grateful if you would have the present letter and its annex circulated as a document of the Security Council.


(Signed) M. Javad Zarif
		Annex to the letter dated 9 November 2006 from the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the
United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General


	As you are well aware, the Zionist regime, since a week ago, has embarked upon a new round of aggression against defenceless Palestinian civilians by mounting an extensive military incursion into the Gaza Strip, through, inter alia, shelling and air bombardment of residential areas and vital infrastructures, especially in Beit Hanoun. Regrettably, this latest Israeli aggression has thus far led to the death of more than 100 civilians, including many women and children, and the wounding of over 350, many of them in critical condition. It has also wreaked havoc on residential, administrative, medical, educational and religious buildings, thus resulting in the aggravation of the humanitarian situation in the area.
	In this regard, the international community was deeply shocked and appalled to learn that 19 Palestinians, including women and children, were massacred in cold blood in tens of other wounded when, in yet another act of State terrorism committed by the Israeli regime, their homes were shelled in Beit Hanoun yesterday.
	Regrettably, these illegal and inhumane acts perpetrated by the Israeli regime, which flagrantly contravene the recognized principles of international law, including the basic provisions of international humanitarian law embodied in the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, are yet to be countered by the international community, especially the United Nations Security Council. Undoubtedly, such inaction on the part of the latter has emboldened the Israeli regime to continue its atrocious crimes in Gaza and other parts of the Palestinian territory, and has provided that regime with wide latitude to wilfully and unreservedly kill innocent Palestinians.
	It is therefore long overdue for the Security Council to effectively deal with these inhumane actions and illegal policies of the Israeli regime and to put an end to its aggression as well as its persistent unlawful occupation of the Palestinian territory. I believe that the Secretary-General of the United Nations also has a highly important role to play in bringing the plight of the Palestinian people to the attention of the international community, especially to that of the Security Council, in order for the latter to fulfil its responsibilities enshrined in the Charter, by condemning the Israeli atrocities and adopting measures aimed at putting an end to similar crimes in the future.


(Signed) Manouchehr Motaki
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Islamic Republic of Iran









sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT S/2006/876
 

 sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT S/2006/876


FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 06-61262  \* MERGEFORMAT 2


 \* MERGEFORMAT 1 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 06-61262


 United Nations
S/2006/876
 
 Security Council
Distr.: General
10 November 2006

Original: English



jobn \* MERGEFORMAT 06-61262 (E)    131106    
Barcode \* MERGEFORMAT *0661262*