Israel Complains to U.N., Says Hizbullah Carrying Out 'Double War Crime'
Israel has filed a complaint with the United Nations after a rocket attack from southern Lebanon and the killing of a soldier in a cross-border shooting.
In the letter of complaint to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council, Israel’s ambassador Ron Prosor wrote that "the lack of leadership in Lebanon allows Hizbullah to operate against Israel and destabilize the region."
"Hizbullah has placed thousands of missiles and rockets within civilian population in southern Lebanon, in blatant violation of international law, rockets and missiles that are used for firing at Israel. Hizbullah thus carries out a double war crime,” Prosor said.
He asked for the Security Council's “intervention in the wake of the escalation in terrorist attacks from Lebanon into Israel in recent weeks.”
"Israel has shown restraint in light of recent events, but reserves the right to protect its citizens and take any necessary measures for this purpose” he warned.
“Israel holds the Lebanese government responsible for the escalation of violence in recent weeks,” Prosor wrote.
“In addition to the wave of rockets, armed fighters have been firing across the Blue Line into northern Israel throughout the month of December. And just last week, a member of the Lebanese Armed Forces shot and killed an Israeli.”
Rockets from Lebanon struck northern Israel on Sunday, causing no injuries but sparking an Israeli reprisal shelling.
Residents of the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona awoke to several large explosions. Shortly after, the Israeli military said it responded with artillery fired toward the source of the launch.
The National News Agency said more than 20 shells hit the mountainous region around the southern border area of Rashaya.
Earlier this month, a Lebanese army sniper killed an Israeli soldier, Shlomi Cohen, 31, as he drove along the volatile border.
The military later said the sniper had acted alone.
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