BICOM

Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Meron Reuben sent a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and President of the Security Council Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti on Tuesday to express “serious concern” over continued rocket attacks emanating from Gaza that have targeted Israeli territory. Reuben requested from the Secretary General and the Security Council President to “firmly condemn” such attacks.

Reuben said that the attacks were part of a disturbing trend and noted that 15 rockets and 17 mortars had been fired into southern Israel last month. “Many of these rockets have exploded in the heart of civilian population centres, including numerous attacks on the city of Ashkelon – which is home to more than 100,000 people – and an attack on 8 January 2011 on Kibbutz Nahal Oz, which injured three agricultural workers,” Reuben wrote. The ambassador pointed out that these attacks violate international law and must be dealt with in the most serious manner. “While Israel has taken a series of measures to improve life for the inhabitants of Gaza, terrorist organisations continue to operate in the area and attack Israeli civilians with impunity,” he concluded.