Ambassador: Israel to allow aid into Lebanon

updated 8:15 p.m. ET July 21, 2006

UNITED NATIONS - Israel announced Friday it will open a humanitarian corridor to allow food, medicine and other aid into Lebanon a day after the United Nations warned of a growing humanitarian crisis from more than a week of intense fighting.

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Dan Gillerman said he expected the humanitarian corridor to be opened later Friday or Saturday.

The Israeli announcement followed appeals from Secretary-General Kofi Annan and many Arab and Western leaders including French President Jacques Chirac who called for “a humanitarian truce.”

It came as U.N. humanitarian chief Jan Egeland addressed the Security Council and called on Israel to accept and guarantee safe passage for humanitarian goods into northern Lebanon by road, into the ports of Beirut, Tripoli and Tyre for sea cargo, and into Beirut airport for air shipments.

Whether Israel is prepared to meet these demands remains to be seen. Gillerman said details were still being worked out.

‘The cessation of terror’
Israel launched a military campaign against Lebanon after the militant Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah captured two of its soldiers July 12. It sealed its border with Lebanon and imposed an air and sea blockade of its neighbor.

Gillerman first told two reporters that Israel had agreed to open a humanitarian corridor and then made the announcement in a speech to the U.N. Security Council. It was added at the last minute to his prepared text in which he said that before Israel can contemplate a cessation of hostilities, “we must insist on the cessation of terror.”

“In spite of the very difficult situation on the ground,” Gillerman said, “Israel is acutely aware of the humanitarian situation and I wish to inform the council that I have just received official confirmation from Israel that further to the corridor allowing evacuation from Lebanon, a two-way in-and-out humanitarian corridor to meet the needs of those affected on the Lebanese side has been established.”

“As the Israeli side of this mechanism is now being formulated, I would like to assure this council of the continued cooperation of the government of Israel on this important issue,” he said.

Lebanon’s special envoy Nouhad Mahmoud, who listened to Gillerman’s announcement, accused Israel in his speech to the council of destroying his country and demanded that Israel pay to rebuild Lebanon.

“We just heard the distinguished representative of Israel informing us that they have accepted a safe corridor for the humanitarian assistance to the victims of the aggression carried out by his country — as if we supposed to salute and pay tribute to the compassionate feelings they have,” Mahmoud said.

“But the whole world has witnessed how the Israeli military machine has turned Lebanon into ruins,” he told the council.

MORE FROM MIDEAST & N. AFRICA

Mideast & N. Africa Section Front

Israel to build new West Bank outpost Group: China world’s top executioner Obama visits Jerusalem's Western Wall Iran vows no concessions in nuke dispute 'Exodus' survivor moves to Israel Newsweek: Israeli envoy: Keep pressure on Iran Mideast & N. Africa Section Front   Add Mideast & N. Africa headlines to your news reader: