AJC Condemns Lebanese Attack on Israel, Killing of Soldier

News provided by

Aug 03, 2010, 01:50 ET

NEW YORK, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC condemned the Lebanese Army's unprovoked attack on IDF personnel carrying out routine maintenance work on the Israeli side of the border today. Lt. Col. Dov Harari was killed and two other Israeli soldiers were injured.

"We send our deepest condolences to Col. Harari's family," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "The international community should unequivocally condemn this unprovoked attack by the Lebanese Army and investigate the very real possibility that Hezbollah terrorists, backed by Iran and Syria, were involved."

AJC also called on international leaders to condemn the chilling threats expressed by Syrian President Bashar al Assad against Israel after the attack. Syria is closely aligned with Iran and actively supports Hezbollah and Hamas.

"Syria is clearly and dangerously stirring up a confrontation with Israel," said Harris.

The IDF said that it was performing necessary maintenance work around the security fence on its northern border when its personnel came under attack. The IDF stressed that it had coordinated crossing the fence with UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force, and had informed them that the work on the other side of the fence was still within Israeli territory. According to an IDF spokesman, the clash was started by a Lebanese sniper who opened fire on Israeli officers who were observing the maintenance work.

Since the Lebanon war of 2006, Hezbollah has, with Syrian and Iranian backing, amassed 40,000 missiles and 20,000 armed men in southern Lebanon, in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 of August 2006, which calls on the terrorist organization to disarm.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee