U.S. accuses Iran of arms shipments to Hezbollah
By Shlomo Shamir and News Agencies Tags: Hezbollah Lebanon election Israel news Security Council resolution
The United States accused Iran on Tuesday of illicit arms deliveries to Hezbollah guerrillas, during a session of the United Nations Security Council, endorsing charges by Israel following its seizure of a ship in the Mediterranean last week.
The Antigua-flagged ship, which was commandeered and later released by Israeli forces, was found to be carrying hundreds of tons of weapons disguised as civilian cargo.
Britain also raised concerns over the arms shipment, which Israel argued contained Iranian-supplied arms intended to be sent via Syria to the Shi'ite Hezbollah group that has fought Israel.
Syria's UN ambassador dismissed the Israeli charges as an "outrageous concoction of lies" and accused the Jewish state of an act of piracy in seizing the Francop. Syria and Iran, neither of which currently holds a seat on the council, had already denied the allegations.
UN diplomats said no immediate action on the matter was expected from the full council, but that it would likely be referred to a council committee charged with monitoring compliance with a council resolution that bans Iranian arms exports.
Israel filed a formal complaint with the UN last week over the shipment, after Israeli officials said they had found enough weapons, including rockets, to supply Hezbollah for a month of fighting. They were stored in at least 40 containers headed to Syria from Egypt, the officials said.
The incident was raised by U.S. Deputy Ambassador Alejandro Wolff at a closed-door Security Council meeting discussing developments in Lebanon since a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, diplomats said.
"The November 4 discovery of a concealed arms shipment in commercial shipping containers, clearly manifested from Iran to Syria in violation of Resolution 1747, provides unambiguous evidence of the destabilizing proliferation of arms in the region," a U.S. official said, summarizing the U.S. address.
Britain's deputy ambassador said he too had raised London's "very serious concern" about the affair, but was more guarded about Iranian involvement, saying only there was a "suggestion that Iran has been caught illegally exporting weapons."
Britain was awaiting further information and could not yet confirm details of the Israeli allegations, envoy Philip Parham told reporters.
Syrian Ambassador Bashar al-Ja'afari flatly denied the allegations. "The act perpetrated by the Israelis is an act of piracy on the high seas and the Israelis should be held accountable," he told reporters outside the council chamber.
"I think - and many people think with me, with Syria - that all these are (the) usual Israeli outrageous concoction of lies to justify their act of piracy."
Ja'afari and Lebanese envoy Caroline Ziadeh also criticized the latest report on Lebanon by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for underplaying Israeli violations of UN resolutions such as surveillance overflights of Lebanon, and focusing more on cross-border shooting by Lebanese guerrillas.
The UN Security Council on Tuesday welcomed the newly formed government in Lebanon and a UN official said the ceasefire in the south was holding "remarkably well" despite repeated violations from both sides.
Michael Williams, the UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process, briefed the council on the implementation of Resolution 1701, which ordered a ceasefire between Israeli and Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon in 2006.
"The UN looks forward to working with the new government in addressing the challenges and fulfilling Resolution 1701," Williams said.
"But obviously more needs to be done to safeguard what has been achieved in the past three years," Williams said.
Williams denounced the almost daily incidences of violations by sea or land of the ceasefire, citing rockets fired by Hezbollah into Israel and the Israeli jet-fighter swoops that violated Lebanese sovereign airspace.
Williams said the UN has condemned the flights and Hezbollah's attacks against Israel. He cited also the maintenance of weapons depots in southern Lebanon as ceasefire violations.
He said the cease-fire violations are "cause for concern and raise the specter of a potential escalation" of the fighting.
Williams called for a permanent ceasefire.
"The cessation of hostilities has held remarkably well and I think it's a tribute to UN Interim Forces in Lebanon, and obviously to Lebanon and Israel," he said.
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The Iranian vessel seized by Israel. |
| Photo by: (Ilan Assayag) |
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I think it is the right decision to stop Iran having nuclear weapons, also to stop them from re-arming Hezbollah! After all, Ahmadinejad and his ilk continually threaten to wipe Israel off the map and the quran also instructs its followers to annihilate christians, jews and unbelievers. Given that muslim extremists are carrying out genocide in many countries around the world and the jewish people have always lived peacefully with its neighbours around the world and only retaliating when provoked in Israel, I think there is a good reason for not allowing Iran to have nuclear weapons but allowing Israel to, as they are in danger from them and possibly other muslim mations surrounding them. God bless Israel!!
babies? let me guess a democrate state with self defense against kids and babies.
You were supporting UN when it came to the Goldstone report and all the resolutions passed by the votes of 57 Islamic countries against Israel. Now that there is a UN sanction against Iran shipping arms you selectively are bashing this rule and complaining about the legal arm shipments of USA. Think about this for a minute with clear concience.... How neutral are you? How clean are you?
Reid:"Since you don`t support enforcing UN resolutions 1747 and 1701, I`ll yawn next time you complain about Israel not following your idea of International Law." Since when does Israel give a rats ass about UN resolutions or International Law Reid,it knows that it can rely on America and its veto power to save its bacon. I'm like you Reid, only i start laughing when Israel cries that its the victim of Arab hostility.
Reid:"Since you don`t support enforcing UN resolutions 1747 and 1701, I`ll yawn next time you complain about Israel not following your idea of International Law." Since when does Israel give a rats ass about UN resolutions or International Law Reid,it knows that it can rely on America and its veto power to save its bacon. I'm like you Reid, only i start laughing when Israel cries that its the victim of Arab hostility.
Crap...??? Honestly, I would rather call it (modern) art...:) But to get to the point, aren't you guys the ones, who regularly lament about the "unde- mocratic, despotic" countries in the U.N...??? However, as soon as it works in your favour, it all of a sudden doesn't seem to be a problem anymore.... Honestly, I don't give a damn about the UNSC prohibition in that regard, to me all delive- ries of weapons into conflict zones are exactly the same immoral, because in most cases they only help prolonging conflicts, instead of bringing them to an end.
US weapon sales to Israel are legal, whereas any Iran weapons exports (not only to Hezbolla) are a violation of Security Council sanctions.
No matter what these groups do, God will not let Israel fall!
There are no UNSC prohibitions of any kind against shipping American or other countries weapons to Israel. There is the UNSC Resolution 1747 explicitly banning Iran?s arms exports. Iran acted illegally because UNSC decisions are binding on all nations and are in fact, international laws that must be obeyed. What was your point again ?
Sami, Viper, Maoriboy, Swiss (Dino), Johnboy, Dutch and the rest, Since you don't support enforcing UN resolutions 1747 and 1701, I'll yawn next time you complain about Israel not following your idea of International Law. Since you support Iran flaunting it, I guess you have no problem when Israel flaunts it.
""The Jews, I find, are very, very selfish. They care not how many Estonians, Latvians, Finns, Poles, Yugoslavs or Greeks get murdered or mistreated as displaced persons as long as the Jews get special treatment. Yet when they have power, physical, financial or political neither Hitler nor Stalin has anything on them for cruelty or mistreatment to the under dog."
Swiss (Dino), There is no UN SCR forbidding the US from shipping arms to Israel. UN SCR 1747 forbids Iran's arms trade with anybody and UN SCR 1701 forbids supplying Hezbollah with any weapons. I know you don't agree with any UN SCR that actually supports Israel's right to exist in security. I wish you would re-think this. Israel might improve its behavior if it thought international law protects everybody (including Jews) and is not just a stick to beat Israel. You've lost any sense of proportion lately. I used to enjoy reading your posts.
How many and who came up with the SAME answer, about Israel getting US weapons. Are all directed by same internet guide?
I stand corrected Hamas will never recognize Israel. You are absolutely right. I was being sarcastic in my post. I'm reacting to those that through perverse gymnastics of logic make Hamas and the Hezbastards out to be reasonable.
the ship started in Dimyat Port in Egypt and the crew did not know about the shipment , it is a plot between the zionists and egyptian government who continue to humiliate itself . this was so shameful the Media stopped talking about it , when the proof came that it was done in Dimyat . but if Iran helps the resistance, it is the right thing to do the UN Charter allows people to resist their occupiers . Arabs stopped helping the resistance , so we thank Iran for this .
You know full well what the 1701 says so stop your childish 'but Israel is geting weapons too' hypocritical BS because nothing in 1701 says that Israel cannot arm. Could the reason be that Hezbollah was aggressor and started the war?
puppets who should have been disarmed years ago intead the UN defied their own mandate and looked the other way.Effectively allowing Hezbula to be an alternate miltia that can challenge the Lebanese army and become a state within a state. They have joined the Lebanese government for now but were quite happy to start a war when it suited them and their patrons.
"Don`t they know that only Israel is allowed to have weapons... including nuclear weapons?" (peacelover) What would happen to little Israel if...it were unarmed and surrounded by a billion Arabs who started the 1948, 1967, 1973 wars (before the "occupation")? Israel could be defeated in a week. Do you seriously think that the Arab countries are similarly threatened by Israel?
In which case why whinge if a soveriegn state has rockets pointed at Israel. More importantly Israel cannot complain about breaches of 1701 when Israel itself is in breach of 1701 by illegally occupying Garjur which is in Lebanon. When 1701 called for a full withdrawal from Lebanon. Israel seems to want to be able to do what it likes, when it likes, whilst demanding that otther soveriegn states do what Israel tells it to do. Israelis need to realise this God chosen crap is just that crap.
So did your government. I suggest if you don't like it you move to Israel to show your support.
Just like the UNHRC.You got precious few votes from Europe not just the USA.You are not quite as popular as you think.
lots more to other Arab states such as Saudi/Egypt/Jordan. They have many more weapons in total than Israel. Have you philosophised about that?
weapons.The Mullahs can also have an Islamic bomb as soon as they stop lying about their plans and repeal their IAEA non proliferation commitments.
What's the big deal, even if this theory was true, aren't we all entiteled to defend our country from the biggest arm tarsenal in the world? Israeli actions and war crimes in Gaza can produce even more hatred
POO to you Jim at lest i know the difference between hypocrisy and your twaddle.
Nope, there are no clean hands in the dark, dark world of the Middle East...:)
Nothing more or less.... There is no hard evidence there... Dutch
on whose side you are on
Ive just spent 2 weeks in NZ The most beautiful country such warm lovely people kind non racist POO to you maoriboy
DLG:"As an aside Hamas has also demonstrated good will by declaring that they`re willing to accept Israel within the pre `67 borders" I believe the latest statement from Hamas said they were prepared to accept a "Palestinian State" within '67 borders.... not Israel. They will never recognise Israel, except as a destination for their missiles.
..and thats new !!!???
The only UN that we all know about is anything but unbiased. So, who the heck are you talking about?
If the Israelies didn't have weapons, including perhaps the Nucs, their would be another world class slaughter of Jews. So, what's wrong with Isralies having Nukes if they are responsible in not using them? Why doesn't it make sense to you that a responsible state have weapons and irresponsible, violent, barbaric, bloodthirsty, delusional states with a culture of death not have weapons at the same time. Makes perfect sense to any rational person.
Of course the Israelies are engaged in information gathering. Its obvious why. The complaints about Israel follow the historic pattern of complaining about Israel, namely, "the Israelies are too aggressive in defending their citzenry" or "the Isralies have no right to defend themesleves." Bottom line that is the gist. Meanwhile, Israelies complain, properly, that their Arab enemies are conducting themselves with a view to attempting to terminate Israel and Israelies. The U.N. pathetically sees moral equivalency in these two dichotomies.
The Syrian amabassador says he thinks that these are lies, I'd like to know what he thinks than the Ship was doing with all those weapons on board. Not to mention the fact they were hidden as civilian cargo. I would realllllly like to hear the explanation.
my only consolation is that many more ships have made it to Lebanon loaded with weapons.
Does this mean any shipment of arms to Israel violates the same resolution?
It is as legal as smuggling weapons from the USA to Israel
"The cessation of hostilities has held remarkably well and I think it's a tribute to UN Interim Forces in Lebanon, and obviously to Lebanon and Israel Good to hear that Lebanese Forces restrain Lebanons eneemies Hezbullah.Thanks Israel for commandeering that Iranian Ship Those weapons would have been directed against Lebanese civilions.
egypt and israel made a plot against hisballa, and now the US is accusing iran! by the way... any news regarding iraq's nuclear and chemical arsenal?
Israel should make peace with Syria immediately. Israel should give up the Golan Heights because Syria has demonstrated such good will by helping supply the Hezbastards with weapons. As an aside Hamas has also demonstrated good will by declaring that they're willing to accept Israel within the pre '67 borders. I certainly believe that since they have in the past expressed peaceful intentions and are not prone to violence.
Its okay for the U.S.to sell arms to a tinpot regime like Israel,besides America is one of the biggest arms dealers in the world and is in no condition to cry foul play. Lets hope the next shipment gets through.
There were no arms confiscation in 2007 and 2008. It just means all illegal contrabands had slipped through.
Maybe the UN is unbiased
including nuclear weapons?
If Israel can violate International Law by secretly producing nuclear weapons with America's help, tell me what's wrong with Iran shipping a few guns to Hezbullah?
The United States Government seems to be acting like Israel's lawyer rather than taking a balanced position. Does it ever go the UN Security Council when Israel uses weapons in an illegal fashion? No, it's the country that vetos resolutions, tries to bury things like the Goldstone Report. Essentially, the lives of Arab Palestinians or Lebanese are not important at all. That's one reason why Israel has lost many soldiers and civilians, because America can't be an honest broker and get both sides to have a comprehensive agreement. It is failing at US foreign policy.
Its okay for the U.S.to sell arms to a tinpot regime like Israel,besides America is one of the biggest arms dealer in the world and is in no condition to cry foul play. Lets hope the next shipment gets through.
In Iran and upper eastern shiek hidden pretending to be a shah planned take down of House of Iran and President 6 months ago. They had chinese ionization weaponry smaller range weapons for use agains 500 mile range. A man named Mark Malone age 48 road a horse into the shiekdom and annihilated the threat. Those were the weapons used in the upper valledy in Iraq Alps as American forces used them. This is also the man who did the take down of many good women in Iraq while their men on prayer mats. Templar justice. The man died honorably as a great hero but also a beheaded man by a man whose wife had been plundered while he on the prayer mats. Justice complete. That is not to be allowed for the deciet of prayer. He was Irish. No more justice but personal. Children are gifts of God or Allah and should not be subject to justice of deceit. Did you know Jesus of Abrahams line like Mohammed? Different generation. I didn't know that either. Rankoo (Karoon)
The Iranians have "repeatedly" shown their complete disregard of any logic towards Israel or all nations in the immediate M.E. They constantly call for Israels destruction and point always to Israel and the West for the causes of all ills in the world. Yet they want nuclear capabilitities for "peaceful" purposes. And were "supposed" to buy it? They dont "start" wars. They just "supply"it?? They were caught with the goods and yet they still deny it??? PLEASE!!! They want the bomb? I as an American taxpayer am ever so ready to give them one! Heck...were spending millions to dismantle them. I say lets use a few. The moneys already been spent. Cant wait to buy some Iranian glass and burn their free oil.
On earth, including Iraq. Either they are condemned or the vote gets blocked by the US. This is why the Arabs do not care for the UN, simply as it's fallacy is allowing a state like Israel to act without any responsibility.
Hezbollah has transformed Lebanon into a powder keg with thousands of rockets pointed at Israel. Right under the noses of the UN. The fact that they haven't been fired yet--just waiting for the right moment--is not peace. It's just the murderer preparing for their next onslaught, and the Goldstones of the world sharpening their pencils.
No one has clean hands in the dark, dark world of the Middle East...:)
There are two sides to every story.
israel formally complaining? i thought that israel despises the U.N because it is always biased and aainst israel, funny that.
it must be a load of XXXXX
despite what the euros will tell you, or the arabs for that matter, the ONLY reason there has been calm since 06' is because israel rightly put an asskicking on lebanon and made the people so pissed off at hezbollah that hezbollah are AFRAID to try it again... hezbollah started it with the kidnapping and killing, and they then got their butts royally kicked despite the silly self loathing israeli commission/reports following the operation. yes, mistakes were made, but overall, the so called "disproportionate" israeli response has kept the peace... if you need proof, just look at gaza...I for one believe israel should hit all of these pathetic arabs fighters harder...they are weak fighters and always run when the tough gets going.
Is this referring to the rockets fired in 2006? Because I think everyone knows that the recent rockets were fired by the palestinians not Hezbollah....
UN is now and always been a terror supporter. Hez is a terrorist group and now veto power in the Leb govt. How in the world is this allowable?? Treat the UN as hostile. Blue hats are legit targets.