Lebanon criticizes Israeli tree-cutting
UN chief, Security Council urged to condemn Jewish state for cutting branches from tree growing in Lebanese territory
Lebanon is urging the United Nations secretary-general and the Security Council to condemn Israel for cutting branches from a tree growing in Lebanese territory.
In letters to Ban Ki-moon and the council circulated Thursday, Lebanon's UN Ambassador Nawaf Salam said an Israeli tractor with a special blade mounted on a hoist reached over a fence on January 7 and cut branches from a tree growing in Lebanese territory. The tree was on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese border town of Kafr Kila-Marjuyun, he said.
The tractor was accompanied by an Israeli military patrol, Salam said. "My government considers the ... act to be a clear violation of my country's sovereignty," he said.
The Israeli military had no comment.
There are frequent incidents on the Lebanese-Israeli border involving water being unloaded on either side or cattle crossing across, but reporters in Beirut didn't recall a complaint about a tree-cutting incident.
