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UN asks Israel to pay Lebanon $850m over oil spill | UN asks Israel to pay Lebanon $850m over oil spill |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The UN General Assembly has passed a resolution asking Israel to pay Lebanon more than $850m (£544m) for a major oil spill during Israel's 2006 war with Hezbollah. | The UN General Assembly has passed a resolution asking Israel to pay Lebanon more than $850m (£544m) for a major oil spill during Israel's 2006 war with Hezbollah. |
The UN has asked Israel to compensate Lebanon before but this is the first time a figure has been given. | The UN has asked Israel to compensate Lebanon before but this is the first time a figure has been given. |
The assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour by 170 votes to six, but its resolutions are not legally binding. | The assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour by 170 votes to six, but its resolutions are not legally binding. |
Israel's UN mission said the resolution was biased. | |
The slick was created when Israeli jets bombed a power station, releasing about 15,000 tonnes of oil into the eastern Mediterranean sea. | 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 120km (75 miles) along the shore. | At its peak, it stretched for 120km (75 miles) along the shore. |
The resolution calls the incident an "environmental disaster'' which caused extensive pollution. | |
'Anti-Israeli agenda' | |
The Lebanese ambassador to the UN, Nawaf Salam, said the resolution was "major progress". | The Lebanese ambassador to the UN, Nawaf Salam, said the resolution was "major progress". |
But Israel's UN mission attacked the move, saying the country had already responded to the slick by working with the UN and other organisations. | |
"This resolution has long outlived the effects of the oil slick, and serves no purpose other than to contribute to institutionalising an anti-Israel agenda at the UN," a statement quoted by AP said. | |
The 2006 conflict began when the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched a raid into Israel and captured two Israeli soldiers. | The 2006 conflict began when the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched a raid into Israel and captured two Israeli soldiers. |
Israel launched massive air and sea attacks on targets all over Lebanon, then invaded the south of the country. | Israel launched massive air and sea attacks on targets all over Lebanon, then invaded the south of the country. |
More than 1,000 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and about 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers, died. | More than 1,000 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and about 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers, died. |
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