Blue Line (withdrawal line)
The Blue Line is a demarcation line dividing Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights. It was published by the United Nations on 7 June 2000 for the purposes of determining whether Israel had fully withdrawn from Lebanon. It has been described as: "temporary" and "not a border, but a “line of withdrawal”.[1] It is the subject of an ongoing border dispute between Israel, Lebanon, and Hezbollah.
On 19 March 1978, the
By September 2018 Israel completed 11 kilometers of a concrete Israel-Lebanon barrier on the Israeli side of the demarcation line to protect Israeli communities from infiltration by Hezbollah militants.[3] The length of the barrier is to be 130 kilometres (81 mi) and was expected to be complete by 2020. The project was expected to cost $450 million. Most of the barrier is a concrete wall topped by steel mesh, sensors and surveillance cameras. Steel fencing was to be used instead of concrete in especially rugged areas.[4]
Origin
This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2012) |
On 11 March 1978
On 19 March 1978 the Council adopted Resolution 425, in which it called upon Israel to cease immediately its military action and withdraw its forces from all Lebanese territory. It also established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The first UNIFIL troops arrived in the area on 23 March 1978.
The Blue Line is based on the deployment of the IDF prior to 14 March 1978. It should not be confused with the Green Line, established in 1949, which is the armistice line of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, nor the Green Line in Beirut during the violence of the 1980s. The 1949 line is in turn the same as the 1923 Mandate Line which was the border between French- and British-mandated territory (see: Paulet–Newcombe Agreement); Lebanon is a former French mandate and Palestine / Israel a former British mandate. (See League of Nations). The 1949 agreement stated that the border would follow the 1923 line.[6] In 1923, 38 boundary markers were placed along the 49 mile border and a detailed text description was published. The 2000 Blue Line differs in about a half dozen short stretches from the 1949 line, though never by more than 475 meters.[citation needed]
Borders are usually negotiated between countries, and between 1950 and 1967 Israeli and Lebanese surveyors managed to complete 25 non-contiguous kilometers and mark (but not sign) another quarter of the international border. On 17 April 2000, when Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak announced that Israel would begin withdrawing its forces from Lebanon, the Lebanese government did not want to take part in marking the border. The UN thus conducted its own survey based on the line discussed in United Nations Security Council Resolution 425.
On 25 May 2000 the government of Israel notified the Secretary-General that Israel had redeployed its forces in compliance with Security Council resolutions 425.
From 24 May to 7 June 2000, the
On 7 June the completed map showing the withdrawal line was formally transmitted by the Force Commander of UNIFIL to his Lebanese and Israeli counterparts. Notwithstanding their reservations about the line, the Governments of Israel and Lebanon confirmed that identifying this line was solely the responsibility of the United Nations and that they would respect the line as identified. On 8 June UNIFIL teams led by Lebanese Brig. General Imad Anka and Brigadier General Amin Htait commenced the work of verifying the Israeli withdrawal behind the line.
On 16 June the Secretary-General reported to the Security Council that Israel had withdrawn its forces from Lebanon in accordance with resolution 425 (1978) and met the requirements defined in his report of 22 May 2000; namely, Israel had completed the withdrawal in conformity with the line identified by the United Nations,
The withdrawal line has been termed the Blue Line in all official UN communications since.
Border dispute
Despite the Blue Line being respected as a de facto boundary,[8] there remains a border dispute that arose after Israel's withdrawal from territory is occupied in southern Lebanon in 2002,[9] with Lebanon arguing that Israel is still holding Lebanese lands, even though the United Nations certified the withdrawal. As of October 2023, Amos Hochstein, the US government official who helped resolve the Israeli–Lebanese maritime border dispute, was holding talks to resolve the land border dispute.[10]
The border dispute is based around 13[11][12] or 14[13][14] points, including in the village of Ghajar, Shebaa Farms and the hills around Kfarchouba.[15] Dorothy Shea, a former ambassador to Lebanon, said that talks had settled at least 7 of the disputed points.[16] A retired Lebanese general described the majority of the disputed areas as "fighting over a couple of centimeters".[17]
- Rosh HaNikra/Naqoura
- The westmost point of the land connection between Lebanon and Israel lies in between the Israeli kibbutz of Rosh Hanikra and the Lebanese city of Naqoura. The exact point where Lebanon, Israel, and the Mediterranean Sea has been designated as Point B1, and is the starting off point for the negotiated sea border. However, the ownership of B1 is in dispute with Lebanon making a claim,[18] citing the 1923 Paulet–Newcombe Agreement.[18] Israel is reportedly reluctant to surrender the peak, since it is a high point that provides a view as far as Haifa.[19]
- Shlomi
- Aalma ech Chaab
- Hanita
- Shomera/Boustane
- Shtula/Marwahin
- Har Adir/Rmaich
- Avivim/Maroun al-Ras
- Yiftah/Blida
- Manara/Meiss Ej Jabal
- Metula
- Adaisseh
- Kafr Kila
- Kafr Kila abutes Israel from Lebanon. Israel has constructed a security wall at the edge of the city, and has undertaken several operations to destroy tunnels from the village to northern Israel.
- Shebaa Farms/Ghajar
- Israel continues to occupy northern Ghajar, but has attempted to withdraw repeatedly. This withdrawal to southern Ghajar has been complicated by the fact that residents object to both the splitting of the village and Lebanese control, preferring a united village under Israeli control.[20] Shebaa Farms, a nearby area, has a more complicated status. Israel and the United Nations view the territory as originally belonging to Syria, and therefore not covered by UNSC Resolution 1701. Lebanon, however, claims it as Lebanese territory, and views the Israeli presence as a violation of international law.[21]
Violations
Despite Israel's complete withdrawal behind the Blue Line in 2000, the de facto boundary has been violated on multiple occasions. Most famously, Israel continues to occupy northern Ghajar.[1] However, the majority of border violations are exchanges of fire or other limited military operations.
On 7 October 2000,
The border stayed quiet until the
On 15 December 2013, a Lebanese Army sniper shot dead an Israeli soldier in the Rosh Hanikra border.[29]
After
On 4 December 2018, Israel initiated Operation Northern Shield to destroy cross-border tunnels built by Hezbollah along the border.[32][33]
On 27 July 2020,
A large number of Blue Line violations by Hezbollah, Palestinian factions under their control, and Israel took place during the
See also
- Good Fence
- Green Line (Israel)
- Green Line (Lebanon)
- Purple Line
- Shebaa Farms
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 1583
- South Lebanon security belt
References
- ^ a b "It's time to talk about the Blue Line: Constructive re-engagement is key to stability". UNIFIL. 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
- ^ "Extracts relating to Article 98 of the Charter of the United Nations: Supplement No 5 (1970–1978)" (PDF). Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs. United Nations. pp. §275–279. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ^ Ahronheim, Anna (2018-09-06). "IDF: No Hezbollah militant will return alive from infiltration attempt". Jerusalem Post.
- ^ Zion, Ilan Ben (2018-09-06). "Israeli wall rising near border with Lebanon stokes tensions". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2023-02-07.
- ^ Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Statement to the press by Prime Minister Begin on the massacre of Israelis on the Haifa-Tel Aviv Road Archived 24 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Historical Documents Archive: 12 March 1978.
- ^ "International Boundary Studies for most of the world". Archived from the original on 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2008-11-24.
- ^ "18 Jun 2000] SC/6878 : SECURITY COUNCIL ENDORSES SECRETARY-GENERAL'S CONCLUSION ON ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FROM LEBANON AS OF 16 JUNE". Un.org. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
- ^ "It's time to talk about the Blue Line: Constructive re-engagement is key to stability". UNIFIL. 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ Al Jazeera Staff. "Why is there a disputed border between Lebanon and Israel?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ Millender, Michaela (2024-01-03). "IntelBrief: The Trajectory of the Israel-Lebanon Front Remains Uncertain". The Soufan Center. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ "Hezbollah Complicates Israel's Border Dispute With Lebanon – SHELDON KIRSHNER JOURNAL". sheldonkirshner.com. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ Harel, Amos (2018-02-27). "Thirteen Israeli border points raising tensions with Lebanon". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 31 Dec 2023. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ "i24NEWS". www.i24news.tv. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ISBN 978-965-92881-1-3.
- ^ Atallah, Nada Maucourant; Prentis, Jamie; Homsi, Nada (2024-01-14). "Lebanon border talks: Can diplomacy succeed as Hezbollah and Israel clash?". The National. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ Ari, Lior Ben (2024-01-09). "How Israel, Lebanon see border redrawn after Gaza war". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- )
- ^ a b Ben-Ari, Lior (2023-12-13). "The challenging journey toward defusing Hezbollah tensions". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ Ben-Ari, Lior (2023-12-13). "The challenging journey toward defusing Hezbollah tensions". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ Lebanon, Israeli soldiers are seen next to a sign post pointing to the village of Ghajar near Israel's border with; Jan. 28; Ratner, 2015-REUTERS/Baz (2015-01-30). "Disputed Alawite village caught between Israel, Hezbollah - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
{{cite web}}
:|first3=
has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Israel, Hezbollah exchange fire, raising regional tensions". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- mfa.gov.il. Archived from the originalon 2007-02-10.
- ^ "Israel, Hezbollah swap prisoners". CNN. January 29, 2004. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
- ^ Ravid, Barak (November 1, 2007). "Lebanon to UN: Israel breached truce deal hundreds of times". Haaretz.
- ^ Urquhart, Conal (2006-08-11). "Computerised weaponry and high morale". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2006-10-08.
- ^ UNIFIL says Israelis were in their territory, Beirut refutes claim
- ^ Mroue, Bassem; Karam, Zeina (2010-08-04). "UN disputes Lebanese claim Israel violated border". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
- ^ "Israel and Lebanon trade fire". Al-Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
- ^ "Troops shot on Israel-Lebanon border". BBC News. 2013-12-16. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
- ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
- ^ "Two Israeli soldiers killed in Hezbollah missile attack". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
- ^ "Israel targets Hezbollah 'terror tunnels'". BBC News. 4 December 2018.
- ^ Keinon, Herb (2018-12-17). "U.N. mission in Lebanon confirms Hezbollah tunnels crossed Israel border". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
- ^ Bassam, Laila; Ghantous, Ghaida (27 July 2020). Liffey, Kevin (ed.). "Lebanon's Hezbollah denies infiltration attempt or clashes near Lebanese frontier". Reuters.
- ^ "Netanyahu warns Hezbollah against playing with fire after frontier incident". Reuters. 27 July 2020.
- ^ "IDF thwarts Hezbollah infiltration attempt into Israeli territory". I24news.
- ^ Azhari, Timour (28 July 2020). "Lebanon's Hezbollah accuses Israel of fabricating border clash". Al Jazeera.
- ^ "Israel says it downed a Hezbollah drone that crossed border". Associated Press. 2021-08-12. Archived from the original on 2022-07-05.
- Lebanon Background, UNIFIL, 2006.
- Ha'aretz, 23 June 2000.
External links
- SECURITY COUNCIL ENDORSES SECRETARY-GENERAL’S CONCLUSION ON ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FROM LEBANON AS OF 16 JUNE UN Security Council Press Release SC/6878, 16 June 2000