Israel demands forceful condemnation of Hezbollah from UNSC for its ‘flagrant violation’ of Resolution 1701

Israel’s UN Amb Danny Danon told UNSC there is an ‘urgent need’ to demilitarize southern Lebanon and disarm Hezbollah

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Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon demanded a “forceful condemnation of Hezbollah's aggression” and the enforcement of UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1701 on Sunday.

His urgent appeal to the UNSC came after Israel launched a pre-emptive strike against the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah to thwart an imminent attack early on Sunday morning.

In a letter to the president of the UN Security Council, Danon noted that Hezbollah’s planned attack for Sunday morning, “unequivocally demonstrates the presence of illegal weapons in southern Lebanon, in flagrant violation of UNSCR 1701 (2006), and serves as a reminder of the threats Israelis have been facing on a daily basis for the past 11 months.”

“The State of Lebanon and the Hezbollah terrorist organization, operating under the guidance of Iran, bear responsibility for the deterioration of the security situation on the northern front,” Danon further stressed. “These actions have been carried out as part of a wider strategy by the Iranian axis aimed at the destruction of Israel through attacks from multiple fronts.”

Hezbollah forces decided to join the war against Israel on Oct.8, 2023, following the Hamas invasion and massacre in southern Israel the day prior, and opened another front in the north. More than 62,000 Israeli residents have evacuated their homes due to the constant threat, and are still unable to return.

According to Israel Defense Forces, Hezbollah launched more than 8,000 missiles toward Israeli territory since the beginning of the war. The terror group also attacked Israel with mortars and explosive drones that overall resulted in the deaths of more than 40 Israelis – among them children on a soccer field – and injured hundreds more.

“This situation highlights the urgent need to demilitarize the area south of the Litani River and achieve the disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed militias operating in southern Lebanon,” Danon emphasized.

The principles he called for were originally included in Resolution 1701, issued by the UNSC at the end of the Second Lebanon War in 2006. The resolution called for the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, based on “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.”

The resolution was supposed to be enforced by the Lebanese government and the UN’s peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL. Yet, Hezbollah has remained in southern Lebanon and even expanded its missile arsenal, and its range, and increased its attacks against Israel.

Danon underscored that Israel has taken necessary steps to protect its citizens, and concluded his letter by calling on the UNSC to strongly condemn Hezbollah for its acts of aggression against Israel, “particularly in the week when UNIFIL’s mandate is renewed.”

‘A terrorist in a suit’

Last week, Danon delivered his inaugural address to the UNSC after taking over the role from the outgoing Israeli ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan.

In a heated discussion over the situation in the Middle East, Danon confronted his Palestinian counterpart, the Palestinian observer to the UN, Riyad Mansour, who claimed Israel was “committing genocide” in Gaza.

Danon strongly confronted Mansour, telling him that if he can't condemn Hamas, he is a “terrorist in a suit.”

“You have been sitting in that chair for twenty years. You have spent two decades in this place proposing resolutions which accomplish nothing but hatred and violence, while claiming to be an advocate for peace,” Danon told the Palestinian representative.

“Mr. Mansour, who do you represent here today? Do you represent the Hamas Terror Organization?” he asked. “Since October 7th, you have delivered hundreds of speeches – yet you have never uttered anything even resembling a condemnation of Hamas… Mr. Mansour, if you cannot condemn them, you are one of them! You do not represent the Palestinian people. You are a terrorist in a suit!”