Report: UN to demand Israel pay Lebanon $1 billion

[Scurrilous]

Lebanese media say Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to instruct Israel to take responsibility for environmental damages caused by 2006 war, including oil spill following bombing of Beirut power plant

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3592764,00.html

<snip>

"UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will demand that Israel pay Lebanon $1 billion in compensation over damages caused during the Jewish state's 2006 war against Hizbullah, Lebanese media reported Saturday.

According to the report, the sum, based on World Bank appraisals, is aimed at covering the environmental and material damages caused by the Second Lebanon War, to neighboring countries as well.

The fundamental part of the compensation demanded is for the damage caused to the Lebanese coast due to an oil spill following an Israeli bombing of a southern Beirut power plant, which the Lebanese said had caused "an ecological disaster."

According to the report, Ban plans to submit a report to the United Nations General Assembly at the end of the month, stating that damage Israel caused to the oil reservoir polluted Lebanon's coast, and that the pollution spread to neighboring countries, especially Syria.

Ban further notes that the UN rehabilitation plan managed to clean some of the oil spill in several areas in northern Lebanon seashores.

The oil spill, which was defined the greatest natural disaster in Lebanon's history, took place after Israel Air Force planes hit a power plant and caused some 110,000 oil barrels to leak into the Mediterranean Sea."

[davidinalameda]

1. is the Lebanese government going to pay for allowing terrorists

to launch bombs at Israel?

[LeftishBrit]

6. The Lebanese government have already paid dearly for not allowing Hezbollah its way in EVERYTHING

Hezbollah attacked; Israel over-reacted; the effects on ordinary Lebanese people were bloody disastrous.

But it's not just Israel that Hezbollah attacked; most of this was part of Hezbollah's all-too-successful struggle for internal power in Lebanon.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Aw, the UN, passing yet another bullshit attack on Israel.

Make Hizb'allah pay for it! They got the funds.

[Turbineguy]

3. No Problem

as soon as the US gives Israel the money.

[Violet_Crumble]

4. What a bunch of silly kneejerk responses to this OP...

Apart from the environmental damage that was caused, let's not forget that bombing power plants is a violation of international law. And in this case not only did Israel cause the damage, but it then refused to allow Lebanese ships to go out and try to start clearing up the mess. Any country that causes environmental damage involving oil-spills should be held responsible and they should pay compensation. That goes for Israel in the Lebanon War and also for the US and the environmental damage it caused during the Gulf War...

[LeftishBrit]

5. I agree that any country that causes environmental damage involving oil-spills should pay...

I think the reason for some of the other responses is that the UN seems far more likely to make such demands of Israel than anywhere else.

'That goes for Israel in the Lebanon War and also for the US and the environmental damage it caused during the Gulf War...'

I agree. But I don't think the UN WILL demand that the US pay compensation for the damage caused in the Gulf War. Hence the perception of bias.