| UN Security Council Resolution 1052 | |
|---|---|
Damaged buildings in the Lebanese capital Beirut | |
| Date | 18 April 1996 |
| Meeting no. | 3,654 |
| Code | S/RES/1052 (Document) |
| Subject | The situation in the Middle East |
Voting summary | 15 voted for None voted against None abstained |
| Result | Adopted |
| Security Council composition | |
Permanent members | |
Non-permanent members | |
United Nations Security Council resolution 1052, adopted unanimously on 18 April 1996, after recalling previous resolutions on Israel and Lebanon, including 425 (1978), the Council called for an immediate ceasefire during the Operation Grapes of Wrath. [1]
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security".
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea. It has land borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan on the east, the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the east and west, respectively, and Egypt to the southwest. The country contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area. Israel's economic and technological center is Tel Aviv, while its seat of government and proclaimed capital is Jerusalem, although the state's sovereignty over Jerusalem has only partial recognition.
Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus is west across the Mediterranean Sea. Lebanon's location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland facilitated its rich history and shaped a cultural identity of religious and ethnic diversity. At just 10,452 km2, it is the smallest recognized sovereign state on the mainland Asian continent.
Contents
The Security Council expressed concern at the consequences of the fighting between Israel and Lebanon, and attacks on civilian targets resulting in loss of life, would have on the Middle East peace process. It stressed the need for respect for international humanitarian law concerning the protection of civilians, and was concerned also for the safety of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) after an attack on a base by Israeli forces on 18 April 1996 resulted in the deaths of civilians. [2]
International humanitarian law (IHL) is the law that regulates the conduct of war. It is that branch of international law which seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict by protecting persons who are not participating in hostilities, and by restricting and regulating the means and methods of warfare available to combatants.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, is a peacekeeping mission established on 19 March 1978 by United Nations Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon which Israel had invaded five days prior, restore international peace and security, and help the government of Lebanon restore its effective authority in the area.
The Israel Defense Forces, commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal, are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force, and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel. The IDF is headed by its Chief of General Staff, the Ramatkal, subordinate to the Defense Minister of Israel; Lieutenant General Gadi Eizenkot has served as Chief of Staff since 2015.
The resolution called for a cessation of hostilities, and supported the need for ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. It reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Lebanon, and called for the protection of civilians and the freedom of movement of UNIFIL. A request was made for Member States to provide humanitarian assistance to the civilian population and to assist in the reconstruction of the country. The Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali was requested to keep the Council informed on developments in the situation.
Sovereignty is the full right and power of a governing body over itself, without any interference from outside sources or bodies. In political theory, sovereignty is a substantive term designating supreme authority over some polity.
Territorial integrity is the principle under international law that prohibits states from the use of force against the "territorial integrity or political independence" of another state. It is enshrined in Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and has been recognized as customary international law. Conversely it states that imposition by force of a border change is an act of aggression. It is a political term, for example when applied to a nation-state like Iraq, which has borders which were imposed at the end of WWI.
Freedom of movement, mobility rights, or the right to travel is a human rights concept encompassing the right of individuals to travel from place to place within the territory of a country, and to leave the country and return to it. The right includes not only visiting places, but changing the place where the individual resides or works.
A ceasefire was eventually reached on 28 April 1996, in the Israeli–Lebanese Ceasefire Understanding between Israel and Hezbollah.
Hezbollah —also transliterated Hizbullah, Hizballah, etc.—is a Shi'a Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament. Since the death of Abbas al-Musawi in 1992, the group has been headed by Hassan Nasrallah, its Secretary-General. The group, along with its military wing is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, Israel, Canada, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council,, the United Kingdom, Australia and the European Union.
