[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 50 (Thursday, April 18, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3569-S3570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE TRAGEDY IN LEBANON

  Mr. PELL. Mr. president, I am deeply upset by this morning's news 
from Lebanon. As many of my colleagues have heard, Israeli shells hit a 
United Nations base in the village of Cana near the city of Tyre, 
within which approximately 500 Lebanese civilians had taken refuge from 
the recent fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. According to early 
press reports, the shelling caused the death of at least 75 Lebanese 
refugees--and perhaps many more than that--including men, women, 
children, and the elderly. At least 120 have been wounded, and two 
Fijian peacekeepers were killed.

[[Page S3570]]

  Both the United Nations and Israel agree that minutes before the 
Israeli attack, Hezbollah guerrillas had fired Katyusha rockets at 
Israel from a position roughly 300 meters from the refugee camp. 
Clearly the Israelis were responding to the Katyusha attack, and 
unintentionally hit the refugee camp. Israeli officials, including 
Foreign Minister Barak, have issued assurances that Israel is not 
targeting civilians and would not have fired intentionally on a U.N. 
base.
  If today's early news reports are correct, then we have witnessed a 
tragedy in the classic sense of the word--the deaths of these innocent 
civilians need not have occurred. Hezbollah has no right to launch 
rockets in such proximity to a refugee camp, apparently hoping to use 
the refugees as a shield against Israeli retribution. Israel, by the 
same token, has no right to respond as it did if it had any inkling 
that civilians would be harmed. If either party had put the best 
interests of the refugees first, then some 75 innocent noncombatants 
would be alive right now.
  I do not dispute that Israel has a right to its own self-defense. I 
have taken care not to criticize Israel for its actions in Lebanon for 
the past 8 days because I understand well the threat that Hezbollah 
poses to Israel's security. I am keenly aware of--and condemn--
Hezbollah's actions and intentions towards Israel. There can be no 
doubt that Hezbollah aims squarely to undermine the Middle East peace 
process, and I, in fact, agree with the widely held public sentiment 
that Israel was prodded into this latest operation in Lebanon. The 
overwhelming carnage of the past 8 days, however, compels me to call 
attention to what increasingly looks to be a disproportionate Israeli 
response. We cannot wring our hands about Hezbollah attacks against 
civilians and say nothing of Israeli excesses, whether or not they were 
intentional. Human life, after all, means as much on one side of the 
border as the other.
  In the effort to root out Hezbollah, the Israelis appear to be 
attempting to cripple Lebanon's civilian economy and infrastructure. 
But as it tries to turn Lebanon against Hezbollah, Israel is running 
the risk that Lebanese Government and people will lose any stake in 
settling their differences with Israel peacefully. I fail to see how 
such an outcome serves Israel's long-term interests.
  In being critical of Israel, I do not wish to absolve the Lebanese 
Government or Syria of their own responsibilities. Lebanon does not 
have the luxury of throwing up its hands and saying that it has no 
control over Hezbollah, and then complaining when Israel takes matters 
into its own hands. That is having it both ways. And I reserve special 
criticism for Syria. Syria has both the power and the means to shut 
down Hezbollah, but cynically lacks the will and has allowed 
Hezbollah's terrorism to go unchecked.
  President Clinton has just announced that U.S. Special Middle East 
Coordinator Dennis Ross--and subsequently Secretary of State 
Christopher--will go to the region to try to end the violence. I join 
the President in calling for an immediate cease-fire. After today's 
tragedy, I would urge Israel--our friend, ally, and presumably the most 
advanced democracy in the region, to show greater restraint. As the 
stronger and more enlightened party, Israel even should contemplate a 
unilateral cease-fire. I understand fully that Israel faces enormous 
security risks, but its obligations to avoid miscues such as today are 
equally great.
  Several Senators addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate majority leader.

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