אולמרט באן קי-מון מזכ"ל או"ם באן קי מון
Photo: Amos Ben Gershom, GPO
Olmert, Ban discuss rocket attacks
Prime minister meets UN secretary general in New York, tells him rocket attacks against Israel Sunday emphasize importance of UNIFIL and Lebanese army's role in southern Lebanon
NEW YORK – The rocket attacks on Israel's north
Sunday afternoon emphasize the importance of the role of UNIFIL and the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at the opening of his meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York.
The two met at the apartment of Israel's ambassador to the UN Danny Gillerman, and discussed the importance of UNIFIL's role in preventing weapon smuggling into Lebanon.
Following the launching of two Katyusha rockets at Israel, the UNIFIL force issued a statement saying that the attack constituted a serious violation of UN Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement.
Ban said at the beginning of the meeting that Olmert's 'visit at this time takes place at a crucially important time, when the whole international community has been gravely concerned about what has been happening. The deteriorating situation in Gaza and in the region has been the source of great concern to all of us, and the failure of the national unity government in Palestine is also a great concern.
"It is a setback in terms of humanitarian security and the peace process in the Middle East. I would like to exchange views with Prime Minister Olmert over lunch, on how to address this very serious situation which we are facing."
