Security Council resolution 501 (1982) [on strengthening of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon]
Symbol: S/RES/501(1982)
Date: 1982-02-25
Status: adopted
Subjects: UN Interim Force in Lebanon > Terms of reference|TROOP WITHDRAWAL|ISRAEL|LEBANON|MIDDLE EAST SITUATION|TERMS OF REFERENCE|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
Votes in favour: 13
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 2
Voting record:
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GUYANA
vote: yes
country: IRELAND
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: JORDAN
vote: yes
country: PANAMA
vote: yes
country: POLAND
vote: abstention
country: SPAIN
vote: yes
country: TOGO
vote: yes
country: UGANDA
vote: yes
country: USSR
vote: abstention
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: ZAIRE
vote: yes

Resolution 501 (1982)
of 25 February 1982

The Security Council,

Recalling its resolutions 425 (1978), 426 (1978), 427
(1978), 434 (1978), 444 (1979), 450 (1979), 459 (1979),
467 (1980), 474 (1980), 483 (1980), 488 (1981), 490 (1981)
and 498 (1981),

Acting in accordance with its resolution 498 (1981), and
in particular with paragraph 10 of that resolution in which
it decided to review the situation as a whole,

Having studied the special report of the Secretary-General
on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, 6

Taking note of the letter of the Permanent Representative
of Lebanon to the President of the Security Council, 7

Having reviewed the situation as a whole in the light of
the report of the Secretary-General and of the letter of the
Permanent Representative of Lebanon,

Noting from the report of the Secretary-General that it is
the strong recommendation of the Commander of the United
Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, and also the wish of the
Government of Lebanon, that the ceiling for troops of the
Force should be increased, and that the Secretary-General
fully supports the recommendation for an increase by one
thousand of the troop strength of the Force,

1. Reaffirms its resolution 425 (1978) which reads:

"The Security Council,

"Taking note of the letters from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon 8 and from the Permanent Representative of Israel, 9

“Having heard the statements of the Permanent Representatives of Lebanon and Israel, 10

"Gravely concerned at the deterioration of the situation
in the Middle East and its consequences to the maintenance of international peace,

“Convinced that the present situation impedes the
achievement of a just peace in the Middle East,

“1. Calls for strict respect for the territorial integrity,
sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within
its internationally recognized boundaries;

" 2. Calls upon Israel immediately to cease its military action against Lebanese territorial integrity and withdraw forthwith its forces from all Lebanese territory;

“3. Decides, in the light of the request of the Government of Lebanon, to establish immediately under its
authority a United Nations interim force for southern
Lebanon for the purpose of confirming the withdrawal of
Israeli forces, restoring international peace and security
and assisting the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the
return of its effective authority in the area, the force to
be composed of personnel drawn from Member States;

“4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the
Council within twenty-four hours on the implementation
of the present resolution."

2. Decides to approve the immediate increase in the
strength of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
recommended by the Secretary-General in paragraph 6 of
his report, 6 from six thousand to approximately seven thousand troops, to reinforce present operations as well as to
make further deployment possible on the lines of resolution
425 (1978);

3. Re-emphasizes the terms of reference and general
guidelines of the Force as stated in the report of the Secretary-General of 19 March 1978 11 confirmed by resolution 426
(1978), and particularly:

(a) That the Force "must be able to function as an integrated and efficient military unit";

(b) That the Force "must enjoy the freedom of movement
and communication and other facilities that are necessary
to the performance of its tasks”;

(c) That the Force "will not use force except in self-defence";

(d) That "self-defence would include resistance to attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its
duties under the mandate of the Security Council";

4. Calls upon the Secretary-General to renew his efforts
to reactivate the General Armistice Agreement between
Lebanon and Israel of 23 March 1949! and, in particular,
to convene an early meeting of the Mixed Armistice
Commission;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his discussions with the Government of Lebanon and the parties concerned with a view to submitting a report by 10 June
1982 on the necessary requirements for achieving further
progress in a phased programme of activities with the Government of Lebanon;

6. Decides to remain seized of the question and invites
the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on
the situation as a whole within two months.

Adopted at the 2332nd meeting by
13 votes to none, with 2 abstentions (Poland, Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics).


6 Official Records of the Security Council, Thirty-seventh Year, Supplement for January, February and March 1982, document S/14869.
7 Ibid., document S/14875.
8 Ibid., Thirty-third Year, Supplement for January, February and March
1978, documents S/12600 and S/12606.
9 Ibid., document S/12607.
10 Ibid., Thirty-third Year, 2071st meeting.
11 Ibid., Thirty-third Year, Supplement for January, February and March
1978, document S/12611.
12 Ibid., Fourth Year, Special Supplement No. 4.