UN holds Israel liable for damages in 2006 oil slick in Lebanon 

The UN General Assembly yesterday adopted a resolution acknowledging that $856.4 million in damage was caused by an oil slick in 2006 and calling for Israel to assume responsibility by compensating its northern neighbour and Syria.

Some 161 countries voted in favour of the draft titled “Oil slick on Lebanese shores”, eight – including Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and the United States – voted against, and there were seven abstentions.

According to that draft, “the Assembly would request the Government of Israel assume responsibility for prompt and adequate compensation to Lebanon for the damage.  It would also request Israel to compensate other countries directly affected by the oil slick, such as Syria, whose shores were partially polluted,” the UN said on its website.

Speaking before the vote,  the representative of Guinea said the slick affected two-thirds of Lebanon’s coastline and negatively impacted its economy.

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While the US expressed disappointment that the UN “continues to take up this unbalanced resolution critical of Israel”.

Israel said the draft text was without merit and had “taken up the Committee’s valuable time and resources for far too long”.  Claiming Hezbollah caused the oil slick, he added that “the resolution is based on false premises”.

The representative of Lebanon said the draft’s approval “reaffirms the Committee’s commitment to international and environmental law as well as the Charter of the United Nations”.

The slick was created when Israeli jets bombed a power station, releasing about 15,000 tonnes of oil into the eastern Mediterranean sea.

At its peak, it stretched for 120 kilometres along the shore.