Israel-Lebanon
Ceasefire Understanding
April 26, 1996
Following is the text of the "understanding"
reached on Friday, April 26, 1996, for the cease-fire in Lebanon:
The United States understands that after discussions with the governments of Israel and
Lebanon, and in consultation with Syria, Lebanon and Israel will ensure the following:
Armed groups in Lebanon will not carry out attacks by
Katyusha rockets or by any kind of weapon into Israel.
Israel and those cooperating with it will not fire any kind of weapon at civlians or
civilian targets in Lebanon.
Beyond this, the two parties commit to ensuring that under no circumstances will civilians
be the target of attack and that civilian populated areas and industrial and electrical
installations will not be used as launching grounds for attacks.
Without violating this understanding, nothing herein shall preclude any party from
exercising the right of self-defense.
A Monitoring Group is established consisting of the United States, France, Syria, Lebanon
and Israel. Its task will be to monitor the application of the understanding stated above.
Complaints will be submitted to the Monitoring Group.
In the event of a claimed violation of the understanding,
the party submitting the complaint will do so within 24 hours. Procedures for dealing with
the complaints will be set by the Monitoring Group.
The United States will also organize a Consultative Group,
to consist of France, the European Union, Russia and other interested parties, for the
purpose of assisting in the reconstruction needs of Lebanon.
It is recognized that the understanding to bring the
current crisis between Lebanon and Israel to an end cannot substitute for a permanent
solution. The United States understands the importance of achieving a comprehensive peace
in the region.
Toward this end, the United States proposes the resumption
of negotiations between Syria and Israel and between Lebanon and Israel at a time to be
agreed upon, with the objective of reaching comprehensive peace.
The United states understands that it is desirable that
these negotiations be conducted in a climate of stability and tranquility.
This understanding will be announced simultaneously at 1800
hours, April 26, 1996, in all countries concerned.
The time set for implementation is 0400 hours, April 27,
1996.
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Following is the text of a letter written by U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher to
Prime Minister Peres on 30 April 1996:
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
With regard to the right of self-defense referred to in the
Understanding dated April 26, 1996, the United States understands that if Hizballah or any
other group in Lebanon acts inconsistently with the principles of the Understanding or
launches attacks on Israeli forces in Lebanon, whether that attack has taken the form of
firing, ambushes, suicide attacks, roadside explosives, or any other type of attack,
Israel retains the right in response to take appropriate self-defense measures against the
armed groups responsible for the attack.
With regard to the prohibitions on the use of certain areas
as launching grounds for attacks, the United States understands that the prohibition
refers not only to the firing of weapons, but also to the use of these areas by armed
groups as bases from which to carry out attacks. |
