The following statement was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants thanks the 157 member states of the United Nations for their vote in the Second Committee supporting the resolution of solidarity with Lebanon in the face of the environmental catastrophe caused by Israel during its aggression in 2006 on the oil tanks in the Jiyeh area south of Beirut, known as the "oil spill on the Lebanese shores" resolution.
Despite the progress made in the cleanup operations and the containment of the oil spill that resulted in the worst environmental disaster in the history of the Mediterranean, the severe economic, health, and environmental damages and losses suffered by Lebanon have yet to be addressed.
The resolution holds increasing significance this year following the Ocean Summit and COP26 last year, as well as the ongoing discussions at COP27 regarding the importance of protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
Moving away from politicizing this resolution, the ministry commits to continuing its efforts, in cooperation with the international community, to compel Israel under applicable international laws to pay the compensation amounting to approximately 856 million US dollars, for the economic and environmental damages it caused to Lebanon.
The ministry hopes that friendly countries who are keen on respecting the UN Charter and its purposes will continue to vote in favor of the resolution when it is presented to the General Assembly for adoption in the coming weeks.
