UN asks Israel to compensate Lebanon $856.4 million over oil spill damage

United Nation’s General Assembly has passed a resolution asking Israel to pay Lebanon more than $850 million in damages for an oil spill caused by an Israeli air force attack in its war against Hezbollah in 2006.
The resolution was passed in the assembly by vote of 170-6 in favour, with three countries abstentions. Israel, the US, Canada, Australia, Micronesia and Marshall Islands voted “no”.
As per the passed resolution, Israel has caused an extensive environmental pollution after the oil slick covered the entire Lebanese coastline and later had extended to the Syrian coastline.
This resolution is not legally binding but it reflects world opinion on particular serious issue.
Earlier UN had asked Israel many times to compensate Lebanon but this was the first time a compensation price was put on the damages.
Israel’s stance on this resolution
Israel has clearly mentioned that this resolution is biased against them.
They even mentioned that in 2006, after the oil slick incident they had immediately responded by cooperating closely with the United Nations Environment Programme, as well as other UN agencies and NGOs, addressing the environmental situation along the coast of Lebanon.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2014