'UN resolution in favor of Lebanon great victory'

BEIRUT (Xinhua) - Lebanon's Prime Minister Tamam Salam said on Saturday the UN General Assembly resolution compelling Israel to compensate Lebanon for the oil spill damages in 2006 is a "political and diplomatic achievement and great victory."

In a statement, Salam said "the resolution means that $856.4 million must be paid by Israel to Lebanon, as a compensation for the oil spill damages caused by Israeli bombing on the Jiyye electricity plant during the 2006 aggression."

In 2006, Israel launched a 33-day offensive against the Lebanese militant party Hezbollah. Jiyye electricity plant was subject to an air raid, causing a huge oil spill on the Lebanese shores.

"This achievement, which is the result of strenuous efforts over the years by the Lebanese diplomacy, especially our delegation to the UN," Salam said, adding that "we hope that the Assembly's step would be the start of applying principles of permanent legal accountability on part of Israel regarding its war crimes."

"Lebanon calls upon the international community to compel Israel to stop its aggressive policies as a condition for any negotiations aiming at achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East," he said.