Israel and Lebanon: 77 Years of Conflict (Part 3)
From Israel's withdrawal in 2000 through the Calamitous Second Lebanon War
In the second installment of our series on the history of Israel’s relations with Lebanon, we described events after the Lebanese Civil War in 1990 up until Israel’s withdrawal from Southern Lebanon in May of 2000.
If you haven’t read the second installment you will find it here:
Israel and Lebanon: 77 Years of Conflict (Part 2)
In our previous article on Israel’s relations with Lebanon since the founding of the State in 1948, we learned about how powerful foreign actors turned a weak Lebanese state into a battleground between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Efforts by the dominant Lebanese Christian community to resist Palestinian influence were one of…
We began this series in hopes of better understanding how Israel found itself under the shadow of Hezbollah, and engaged in the current bloody struggle with the deadly terrorist army, which has dominated Lebanon for over two decades.
As we read, we found ourselves exploring a part of recent Israeli history which is not widely known or discussed. This third installment covers the period after Israel left Lebanon in the dying days of the Oslo era, through the difficult events of the Second Lebanon War in 2006.
No Peace on the Lebanese Border
In spite of Israel’s decision under the leadership of Prime Minister Ehud Barak, to withdraw completely from Lebanon, in compliance with UN Security Council resolution 425, Hezbollah found a pretext to continue their armed presence in Southern Lebanon and their attacks on Israel. Hezbollah insisted that an area of the Golan heights, captured by Israel from Syria in 1967, is actually part of Lebanon, and declared that their mission of “liberating” Lebanon from Israeli occupation will not be complete until Israel withdraws from the area. Hezbollah calls this area Shebaa Farms, while Israelis refer to it as Mount Dov. Before 1967, the area was part of Syria. It has never been controlled by Lebanon.
This tiny sliver of territory, eleven kilometers in length and 2.5 kilometers wide, has been used since 2000 by Hezbollah to justify their continued violence against Israel. On November 7, 2000, Hezbollah staged a cross-border raid into Israel, capturing three Israeli soldiers and taking them back to Lebanon. The soldiers were Staff Sgt. Adi Avitan (22), Staff Sgt. Benyamin Avraham (21), and Staff Sgt. Omar Souad (27).
Israeli soldiers kidnapped and killed by Hezbollah on November 7, 2000 —————————Image Source: Israel Government Web Site
On October 15, 2000, Hezbollah announced that it was holding an Israeli officer, Lt-Col. Elhanan Tenenbaum, who had entered Lebanon of his own accord, allegedly on a mission for Mossad.
Treachery by UNIFIL
In this 2009 article at YNET, we read that Israel discovered that the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) had video of Hezbollah’s capture of Tenenbaum, as well as items belonging to the three soldiers captured in November.
In June 2001, Israel learned that the UN had footage of the abduction – a fact adamantly denied by the organization up to that point. The incident was filmed by UNIFIL soldiers stationed in Lebanon and revealed that Hizbullah had moved the soldier away from a near-border hiding place 18 hours after the abduction took place. The UN was also found to be in possession of clothing and personal effects belonging to Avraham, Avitan and Souad.
UNIFIL at first denied having the footage of Tenenbaum’s abduction and the items belonging to the soldiers. Their dishonesty led some in Israel to suspect that UNIFIL soldiers had played a role in the abductions. The families of the three kidnapped soldiers sued the UN for their alleged role in 2004.
It is unknown whether the three staff sergeants were killed at the time of their capture, or whether they were taken alive and murdered shortly afterward in captivity. Hezbollah refused to disclose any information on the state of their health. In 2001, On October 29, 2001, the IDF declared the three soldiers dead based on forensic evidence, allowing the families to hold funerals and mourn their dead.
The soldiers bodies were held until 2004, when they were exchanged, along with living hostage Elhanan Tenenbaum, in return for 36 Lebanese and other foreign nationals, and 400 Palestinians held by Israel.
Five Years of Attacks and Reprisals
Names of fallen soldiers in this section come from Hezbollah Terrorist Attacks Against Israel (2000-2006) at Jewish Virtual Libary.
In the years after Israel’s withdrawal, Hezbollah staged cross-border attacks on Israel every few months, and Israel responded with air strikes and cross-border fire. An Israeli soldier, Khalil Taher, was killed when Hezbollah detonated a roadside bomb on November 26, 2000. Six mortars were fired at a military post on Jan 31, 2001, causing no casualties, but on Feb 16, an antitank missile killed a soldier, Elad Shneor, and wounded three more. Another soldier, Elad Litvak, was killed by an antitank missile on April 14, and two more were wounded in a similar attack on June 29. Israel responded with air strikes on Syrian and Hezbollah positions on July 1, after which the border was quiet for the rest of the year.
On March 12, 2002, two terrorists from Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) infiltrated Israel and fired on vehicles driving on the road from Shlomi to Matzuva. They killed six Israelis, including Lt. German Rojkov. The attack was initially attributed to Hezbollah and later to Palestinian Islamic Jihad. On the 29th of August an IDF soldier, Ofer Misali, was killed and two others wounded by rocket fire. In December, Israel carried out air strikes on Lebanon, destroying ammunition depots, and infrastructure. Hezbollah fired rockets into Kiryat Shmonah, killing two Israelis.
On May 23, 2003, Hezbollah launched an attack on Mount Dov, killing a soldier. On July 20, two more IDF soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah attack on a border post. Israel fired back killing a Hezbollah fighter. On July 22, two civilians were wounded in Shlomi by anti-aircraft shells fired from Lebanon. Israel assassinated a Hezbollah member with a car bomb in Beirut on August 2. A teenager was killed and five other Israelis were wounded by an anti-aircraft shell. An IDF soldier was killed by gunfire on October 6.
On January 19, 2004, an Israeli soldier was killed while clearing explosives with an armored bulldozer. On May 7, Hezbollah fire killed a soldier and severely wounded two more. On July 19, a Hezbollah official was assassinated by a car bomb. Hezbollah blamed Israel. On July 20, two Israelis were killed by snipers and Israel retaliated with tank fire killing one.
On January 9, 2005, a roadside bomb planted in northern Israel killed an IDF soldier. Israel responded with shelling, killing a French officer serving with UNIFIL. On April 7, Hezbollah kidnapped two Israelis from an Arab town, held them for four days and then released them. In June, a Hezbollah fighter was killed while infiltrating into Israel. On June 29 an Israeli soldier was killed by mortar fire. On June 30, Hezbollah attacked Mount Dov, wounding six soldiers and Israel responded with an air strike which killed a Hezbollah fighter. On November 21 five Hezbollah fighters entered the Golan heights and were killed by an Israeli sniper. Israeli warplanes bombed Hezbollah targets and Hezbollah shelled northern Israel, wounding nine soldiers.
Second Lebanon War
On May 27, 2006, Hezbollah fired a volley of rockets into Israel. Israel responded with air strikes, killing two Hezbollah fighters. The attack came a day after the killing of Mahmoud al-Majzoub a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad official in Sidon. Hezbollah and the Lebanese government blamed the killing on an Israeli spy ring, but Israel denied this.
On July 12, Hezbollah sent fighters across the border into Israel. They killed three Israeli soldiers, wounded three others and captured two. The two soldiers taken captive were both Sergeants, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. During the attack, Hezbollah created a diversion by firing artillery at Israeli bases along the border as well as the town of Shlomi, and other villages. Israel mounted an unsuccessful rescue mission in which five more IDF soldiers were killed. This marked the beginning of the second Lebanon war.
The kidnapping on July 12, 2006 followed several failed attempts by Hezbollah to kidnap Israeli soldiers during 2005, including the November 21 infiltration into the Israeli Golan when an Israeli sniper killed five Hezbollah fighters. The Israeli government of Ehud Olmert appears to have planned a strong blow against Hezbollah for several months before the Hezbollah attack of July 12, which triggered hostilities.
Image: Ehud Olmert served as Israel’s Prime Minister from 2006 to 2009 ——————By Government Press Office of Israel, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=153555949
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah declared that the two captured soldiers would only be released in return for Lebanese Samir Kuntar and four other prisoners they clamied were held by Israel. Nasrallah claimed that the kidnapping was the fulfillment of a promise Hezbollah had made after failing to secure the release of these alleged prisoners in an earlier exchange in 2004.
Israel responded by launching air strikes on Hezbollah military targets as well as on Lebanese infrastructure, including the Beirut Airport. Roads connecting Southern Lebanon to the rest of the country were bombed, to prevent the transportation of the kidnapped soldiers out of the area.
The air strikes also aimed at destroying Hezbollah’s stock of long range missiles. The attacks on Lebanese infrastructure were aimed at punishing Lebanon, which Israel held responsible for the years-long series of Hezbollah attacks that emanated from Lebanese territory. This was strengthened by the fact that Hezbollah had two members in the Lebanese cabinet at the time and was part of the Lebanese government.
The Lebanese Prime Minister disavowed responsibility for the July 12 attacks, but Israel rejected this, given the failure over many years by Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah, which had continued to attack Israel after its withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000.
War Events Day by Day
Information in this section comes largely from the Wikipedia article linked in the title just above.
On July 13, Israel blockaded Lebanese ports. They bombed sites used to store Hezbollah munitions. Israel explained that civilian casualties caused by these attacks were due Hezbollah’s storage of munitions in civilian areas. The Lebanese government called Israel’s attacks “disproportionate”, denounced the harm to civilians and demanded an immediate ceasefire. This dialog will sound familiar, as it follows the illegal strategy of using human shields, employed many times over the years by Hamas and Hezbollah, including during the present war.
Hezbollah announced that it had 13,000 rockets ready to fire at Israel, and the Israeli home front command ordered hundreds of thousands of Israelis in the north to sleep in bomb shelters. Nevertheless a man was killed by a rocket in Nahariyah, and another severely wounded in Tzfat (Safed), dying later of his wounds. Two rockets struck Haifa as well, the first time rockets from Lebanon had reached the city. In Lebanon, authorities reported 35 civilians killed as a result of Israeli bombing.
On July 14, Israel bombed the Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut. Hezbollah fired one hundred Katyusha rockets into eighteen Israeli communities, injuring dozens, and killing two in Meron. Lebanon reported that the death toll there reached 50. The security council convened and Lebanon accused Israel of “widespread aggression”.
On July 15, Patriot missiles were deployed to protect Haifa. Israel attacked the ports of Beirut and Tripoli and other locations on the Lebanese coast. Lebanon reported that 15 villagers were killed in an Israeli air strike. As in the present war in Gaza, the significance of the reports on Lebanese casualties is hard to know, as no distinction was made between Hezbollah fighters and civilians in reporting the number of dead.
On July 16, eight Israelis were killed when rockets hit a railroad maintenance facility in Haifa. Israel struck Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut and initial reports suggested that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had been wounded. This turned out to be untrue. Lebanese rockets again hit a number of Israeli villages and towns in the north, causing no casualties.
Our family had visited Haifa in the days before the war and we were still in the country when the rockets hit the city. We have a vivid memory of former Canadian Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour, standing on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon that day, and criticizing Israel (but not Hezbollah) for committing “war crimes”.
On July 17, Haifa was hit again by rockets and another one struck Atlit, south of Haifa. Five Israelis were reported to have been injured when a rocket struck a synagogue. A hospital in Tzfat was hit by a rocket.
On July 18, more Lebanese civilians were reported killed in an Israeli air strike.
On July 19, Israel bombed a bunker in Beirut which they said was a Hezbollah headquarters. International media began reporting Israeli ground incursions into Lebanon. Two Israelis and four Hezbollah fighters were reported killed. Two Israeli children were killed in Nazareth by a rocket. Extensive damage to fuel storage facilities were reported in Lebanon.
On July 20, more fighting occurred inside Lebanon. Israel lost five dead and Hezbollah lost two. An Israeli was killed when two Israeli helicopters collided. Israel reported that they carried out 80 air strikes during the day.
On July 21, Israel mobilized five divisions in preparation for a ground incursion. Hezbollah rockets injured 20 Israelis in Haifa. Israel continued air strikes on Beirut and the Beqaa valley, reportedly killing 12 Lebanese. Diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the two Israeli soldiers captured on July 12 were reported to be under way.
On July 22, 2000 Israeli troops entered Lebanon, seizing the border village of Maroun-al-Ras. Israel warned the residents of 14 Lebanese border villages to evacuate. Air strikes targeted Hezbollah rocket launchers near the village of Khiyam. Roads to Syria were hit as was traffic near Tyre. Israel struck 124 targets in Lebanon and five Lebanese were reported killed. Hezbollah fired 160 rockets at towns in northern Israel.
On July 23, Israel struck 270 targets across Lebanon. Hezbollah fired 90 rockets, killing two people in Haifa. Hezbollah reported three dead in the fighting. Israel said Hezbollah was under-reporting their casualties.
Israel stated that it would welcome a NATO led force to keep Hezbollah away from the border. Syria threatened to enter the war and suggested dialog with the US. The Lebanese Prime Minister said it was too early to discuss foreign military deployments.
On July 24, Israeli forces advanced toward the town of Bint Jbail. An Israeli helicopter crashed, killing two pilots. Hezbollah fired 100 rockets into Israel. US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice arrived in Israel. Israel conducted air strikes in South Lebanon.
On July 25, Israeli forces surrounded Bint Jbail. Hezbollah and Amal acknowledged a total of 11 killed in the ground fighting. Israel struck southern Lebanon over 100 times. Civilians were reported killed in Nabatiyeh. Israel also struck the Dahiyeh neighbourhood of Beirut which is a Hezbollah stronghold.
On July 26, Israel conducted sixty strikes. One strike killed four UN peacekeepers. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan accused Israel of deliberately killing them, claiming that their position was well known and that repeated calls to the Israelis went unanswered. Israel lost nine killed in ground fighting along the border, its worst day of the war so far. Hezbollah fired 150 rockets into Israel, wounding 31. Prime Minister Olmert announced the intention to hold a 2 km security zone along the border.
On July 27, Israel mobilized three more divisions. The IAF conducted 120 air strikes. Lebanon reported 11 killed. Hezbollah fired 100 Katyushas into Israeli towns and villages, injuring 13.
On July 28, Israel conducted 130 air strikes. Hezbollah fired 98 rockets into Israel. Hezbollah fired a rocket with a 100 kg warhead which struck near Afula. Israel reported 26 enemy killed in ground fighting while Hezbollah acknowledged 14 dead. Hezbollah leader Nasrallah was in Damascus at the same time a the Iranian foreign minister. Israeli intelligence agencies were said to disagree on Hezbollah’s ability to keep fighting.
On July 29, Israel pulled ground forces back from Bint Jbail. Israel continued air strikes against Hezbollah installations, destroying dozens of buildings. A patriot missile battery was deployed north of Tel Aviv to defend against the longer range missile, Hezbollah first used the previous day.
On July 30, Israel moved into villages that were used by Hezbollah. An Israeli bombing reportedly resulted in a large number of casualties near Qana. Lebanese regular army forces fired on Israeli jets, attracting Israeli counter fire.
On July 31, Israel had more clashes with regular Lebanese forces. Hezbollah claimed to have hit an Israeli warship. Israel denied this.
On August 1, Israel struck weapons smuggling routes near the Lebanese border with Syria. Hezbollah claimed to have killed 3 Israelis and Israel reported 10 Hezbollah dead.
On August 2, Israel landed troops who raided a Hezbollah headquarters located in a hospital in Baalbek, capturing three Hezbollah members.
On August 3, Hezbollah hit Israel with 132 rocket attacks. Eight civilians were killed by rockets in Israel and four Israelis died fighting in Lebanon. Hezbollah pledged to keep fighting until Israel was expelled. Israel announced plans to advance to the Litani river 18 kilometers north of the border.
On August 4, Israel targeted two buildings near Qaa, which contained weapons. Hezbollah reported a high number of civilian casualties in the strike and Israel said Hezbollah used human shields to protect its weapons. Israeli bombing cut off land routes into Lebanon in order to prevent Syrian resupply of Hezbollah. Hezbollah fired over 200 rockets into Northern Israel. One rocket hit Hadera, twenty kilometers north of Tel Aviv. Three Israelis were killed by a rocket in Tverya (Tiberias).
On August 5, Israeli special forces raided a rocket launching site in Tyre, fighting with Hezbollah forces in the city. The ground raid was an attempt to avoid civilian casualties, after criticism by human rights groups that Israeli air raids on rocket launching sites were indiscriminate. Israel lost one killed and five wounded in the raid. 170 rockets were launched by Hezbollah into Israel.
On August 6, a Katyusha rocket attack killed twelve Israeli soldiers and eight civilians in the deadliest attack of the war. Haifa was hit by a rocket, killing three people. Israel bombed Hezbollah facilities in Beirut and in many other locations. Hezbollah fired 180 rockets into Israel.
On August 7, Israeli special forces again raided Tyre, destroying Hezbollah rocket launchers. Israeli air strikes continued on Beirut and many other locations, targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers. Israeli forces fought Hezbollah on the ground near the village of Houla. Israel lost three soldiers in fighting near Bint Jbail. Hezbollah launched 160 rockets into Israel.
On August 8, an Israeli soldier was killed in ground fighting with Hezbollah. Later two more were killed in fighting in Bint Jbail. At the United Nations, the details of a ceasefire resolution were debated. A plan for Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani river, to be replaced by Lebanese armed forces, was discussed. Lebanon and Arab League delegates said the resolution should also call for a full Israeli withdrawal.
On August 9, Israel lost 15 dead as troops backed by tanks continued fighting with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. At the UN, the Israeli ambassador said that Israel would be willing to withdraw if Lebanon put an end to the Hezbollah presence on its borders, pointing out that Israel had waited 28 years for UNIFIL to enforce peace along the border, without success. Hezbollah launched over 160 rockets into Israel and Israel conducted air strikes on Lebanon.
On August 10, the IDF fought Hezbollah in several villages, suffering eight wounded in a mortar attack. Israel took control of the village of Marjayoun. They dropped leaflets warning the inhabitants of southern Beirut to evacuate for their own safety. A Hezbollah rocket killed two people, including a child in Deir-al-Assad. Another rocket struck Haifa. Hassan Nasrallah called on Israeli Arabs to leave Haifa.
On August 11, Israel launched attacks westward from the Metulah panhandle toward the Litani river. Four hundred Lebanese soldiers, trapped in Marjayoun since the beginning of the war were allowed to evacuate. Their column was joined by a large number of civilian vehicles. Israel lost two soldiers in fighting in different areas of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah fired 150 rockets into Israel.
A column of Lebanese troops and civilians evacuating from Marjayoun was hit by an Israeli air strike, killing six and wounding 41. CNN coverage of the incident led to controversy over why the column was attacked. One Israeli source said travel in the area had been forbidden. The UN security council unanimously passed resolution 1701 which would be the basis for an end to the fighting on August 14.
On August 12, fighting continued as Israel pushed toward the Litani river. Seven IDF soldiers were killed and 12 gravely wounded. Israeli air strikes targeted Hezbollah rocket launchers and other facilities. In all, 24 Israeli soldiers lost their lives on August 12. The army stated that they were acting to protect Israeli civilians from Hezbollah rocket fire and would continue fighting until a ceasefire plan was agreed.
Hezbollah fired four rockets into northern Israel. A Hezbollah official stated that the group would not disarm, but the Lebanese Prime Minister said there is a “national consensus.” Nasrallah described the UN resolution as biased toward Israel. The UN Secretary General announced that a ceasefire would go into effect at 1 AM on August 14. Forty eight Hezbollah rockets had hit the north by 6 PM.
On August 13, Israel continued to attack Hezbollah positions, conducting over 100 air strikes. Israeli commander Benny Gantz announced Israel’s intention to observe the ceasefire when it goes into effect, as the Israeli cabinet approved it. Hezbollah fired 250 rockets into Israel, killing an Israeli civilian in Tzfat.
On August 14, the ceasefire came into effect. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel would continue to target Hezbollah wherever they operated. He said that 159 Israelis were killed between July 12 and August 13. The Lebanese reported 908 killed during the war.
Hassan Nasrallah said that Israeli troops were legitimate targets as long as they remained on Lebanese soil. He equivocated on the question of disarmament, saying the Lebanese army was not ready to defend the country.
Speaking on US television, US President Bush blamed Hezbollah, Syria and Iran for the war and said that the outcome was a defeat for Hezbollah.
UN Security Counsel Resolution 1701
On August 10, the details of a ceasefire resolution were finalized and on August 11, resolution 1701 was approved unanimously by the Security Council. It was approved by the Lebanese government on August 12, and by Israel on August 13. A ceasefire came into force on the morning of August 14.
Resolution 1701 is too long to reproduce here in full, but the reader is encouraged to follow the link above in order to read and understand it. Here are the key points:
The resolution identifies the cause of the war as Hezbollah’s attack on Israel on July 12.
Calls for unconditional release of the two IDF soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah
Calls for a cessation of all attacks by Hezbollah and an end to Israeli offensive operations
“3. Emphasizes the importance of the extension of the control of the Government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory in accordance with the provisions of resolution 1559 (2004) and resolution 1680 (2006), and of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, for it to exercise its full sovereignty, so that there will be no weapons without the consent of the Government of Lebanon and no authority other than that of the Government of Lebanon;”
“8. (The Security Council) Calls for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent ceasefire and a long term solution based on the following principles and elements:
full respect for the Blue Line by both parties;
security arrangements to prevent the resumption of hostilities, including the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani river of an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Government of Lebanon and of UNIFIL as authorized in paragraph 11, deployed in this area;
full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, and of resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), that require the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, so that, pursuant to the Lebanese cabinet decision of 27 July 2006, there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than that of the Lebanese State;
no foreign forces in Lebanon without the consent of its Government;
no sales or supply of arms and related materiel to Lebanon except as authorized by its Government;
provision to the United Nations of all remaining maps of landmines in Lebanon in Israel’s possession;
11. (The Security Council) Decides, in order to supplement and enhance the force in numbers, equipment, mandate and scope of operations, to authorize an increase in the force strength of UNIFIL to a maximum of 15,000 troops, and that the force shall, in addition to carrying out its mandate under resolutions 425 and 426 (1978):
(a) Monitor the cessation of hostilities;
(b) Accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout the South, including along the Blue Line, as Israel withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon as provided in paragraph 2;
(c) Coordinate its activities related to paragraph 11 (b) with the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel;
(d) Extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons;
(e) Assist the Lebanese armed forces in taking steps towards the establishment of the area as referred to in paragraph 8;
(f) Assist the Government of Lebanon, at its request, to implement paragraph 14 (securing the border. Lebanon never made such a request Ed.);
12. Acting in support of a request from the Government of Lebanon to deploy an international force to assist it to exercise its authority throughout the territory, authorizes UNIFIL to take all necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces and as it deems within its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations 06-46503 3 S/RES/1701 (2006) is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind, to resist attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council, and to protect United Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers and, without prejudice to the responsibility of the Government of Lebanon, to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence;
14. Calls upon the Government of Lebanon to secure its borders and other entry points to prevent the entry in Lebanon without its consent of arms or related materiel and requests UNIFIL as authorized in paragraph 11 to assist the Government of Lebanon at its request;
15. Decides further that all States shall take the necessary measures to prevent, by their nationals or from their territories or using their flag vessels or aircraft:
(a) The sale or supply to any entity or individual in Lebanon of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned, whether or not originating in their territories; and
(b) The provision to any entity or individual in Lebanon of any technical training or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of the items listed in subparagraph (a) above;
except that these prohibitions shall not apply to arms, related material, training or assistance authorized by the Government of Lebanon or by UNIFIL as authorized in paragraph 11;
(This is the arms embargo: No effort was ever made to enforce this. Ed.)
Aftermath of the War
Those following current events will not find it to be a spoiler, if we start out by writing that Hezbollah was not disarmed and did not move north of the Litani river. Iran never stopped shipping weapons to Hezbollah via Syria.
The Lebanese Prime Minister announced the intention to deploy Lebanese troops to the South to replace withdrawing Israelis on the 15th of August. The UN said it would take until November for the full 15,000 troops of the new UNIFIL to be in place.
By August 17, Israel had handed over control of half of southern Lebanon to the existing 2000 member UNIFIL force. 6,000 Lebanese troops also crossed the Litani that day. On the 18th, Lebanese troops arrived in Shebaa on the border with the Israeli Golan, bordering territory that had been claimed as Lebanese by Hezbollah, and used as a pretext for continuing the war after Israel withdrew from Lebanon in 2000.
On August 19, Israeli troops clashed with Hezbollah fighters in the Bekaa Valley town of Boudai, in an attempt to stop the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah units, in violation of the arms embargo called for in paragraph 15 of resolution 1701. In spite of the violation of the arms embargo, the UN Secretary General condemned Israel’s action in Boudai. Two Israeli soldiers were killed.
Hezbollah forces reportedly turned away reporters from Boudai on the twentieth while funerals were held for four fighters killed in the Israeli raid. Israel’s suggestion that UN forces be deployed on the Syrian Lebanese border were rejected by Syria. Israel said that if the UN monitored Lebanese ports it would be in a position to lift its blockade, which aimed to prevent arms from reaching Hezbollah. European nations hesitated to offer troops until the UNIFIL rules of engagement were spelled out.
By August 25, commitments had been secured for around 7,000 European troops. International human rights groups began publishing reports, accusing Israel of war crimes in its campaign in southern Lebanon. Israel defended its actions, denying that it had targeted civilians or attacked indiscriminately. Public statements by the Secretary General of the UN indicated that it would not be up to the new UNIFIL to disarm Hezbollah, stating that the Lebanese would be expected to do it. Reports indicated that Hezbollah members continued to carry their weapons openly in many parts of Lebanon. Russia rejected complaints by Israel that Hezbollah’s effectiveness during the war had been bolstered because they had been furnished with advanced Russian weapons.
Discontent emerged in Israel over the handling of the war, including from returning soldiers. Polls on the 25th of August showed 63% of Israelis wanted the Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign. This put pressure on Israel to withdraw, although its demands for a UN presence on the Syrian border were no closer to being met. A Hezbollah official said that Hezbollah’s “resistance” to Israel had to continue, indicating that they would not give up their weapons.
By the end of August, the expanded UN force had not yet been deployed and Lebanon indicated that the UN would not be invited to police the border with Syria. Israel was under pressure to lift its naval blockade, but PM Olmert insisted that the blockade would only be lifted when all elements of resolution 1701 had been implemented. Israel relented and lifted the air and naval blockade by September 8. The arms embargo on Hezbollah was never enforced by the Lebanese or by the UN.
On September 26, Nasrallah boasted that Hezbollah had 20,000 rockets and was stronger than ever. Hezbollah supporters through stones over the border fence at Israeli troops. On October 1, Israel announced that it had completed the withdrawal of its troops from Lebanon. The UN identified an Israeli presence in the town of Ghajar which straddled the border. Israel said it would maintain its presence there until the final implementation of the terms of the truce.
On January 17, 2007, the IDF chief of staff Dan Halutz resigned, accepting responsibility for failures in conducting the war. The Prime Minister Ehud Olmert refused to follow suit. Israel created the Winograd commission to look into the conduct of the war. The commission held its first meetings on September 18, 2006.
This brings us to the end of the third installment in our series of articles on Israel’s relations with Lebanon. The research has taken longer than expected and digging into the difficult events of the Second Lebanon War helps us to better understand some of the stresses that have emerged in Israeli society in the eighteen years since then. Look for further articles on this subject in the weeks to come.
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The facts speak for themselves - UN Security Counsel Resolution was never implemented, so no peace treaty. All of the compliances were on Israel's side! And the world continues to question Israel's right to protect itself?