These discussions come at a time when assaults are escalating between Israel and Hezbollah, an armed group that holds with its allies 62 of the 128 democratically elected seats in Lebanon’s parliament.
Right here’s what it is advisable to know concerning the important decision that has been the linchpin of peace between Israel and Lebanon for nearly 20 years and the ten,000 UN peacekeepers who’re tasked with implementing it on the bottom.
Safety Council unanimously adopts decision 1701 in 2006. (file)
Council acts to cease battle
Adopted unanimously in 2006, the aim of decision 1701 continues to be about ending hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, with the Council calling for a everlasting ceasefire to be based mostly on the creation of a buffer zone.
By the decision, the Council determined to take steps to make sure peace, amongst them authorising a rise of drive energy of the UN Interim Power in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to a most of 15,000 troops that may, amongst different issues, monitor the cessation of hostilities, help Lebanese armed forces as Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon and make sure the protected return of displaced individuals.
The UN mission additionally would proceed its yearly renewed mandate, which the Council established in 1978.
UN peacekeepers patrol the Blue Line in El Odeisse in south Lebanon in 2023. (file)
What are the decision’s key provisions?
The important thing components of the 19-paragraph-long decision embrace the Security Council’s name for a full cessation of hostilities based mostly upon, particularly, the rapid finish by Hezbollah of all assaults and by Israel of all offensive navy operations.
The decision referred to as for Israel and Lebanon to help a everlasting ceasefire and a long-term answer based mostly on the next ideas and components:
- full implementation of the related provisions of the Taif Accords and of resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), requiring the disarmament of all armed teams in Lebanon, so there can be no weapons or authority in nation aside from that of the Lebanese State
- no international forces in Lebanon with out the Authorities’s consent
- no gross sales or provide of arms and associated materiel to Lebanon besides as authorised by its Authorities
- provision to the UN of all remaining maps of landmines in Lebanon in Israel’s possession
- full respect by each events for the Blue Line and safety preparations to forestall the resumption of hostilities, together with an space freed from any armed personnel, property and weapons aside from these of the Lebanese authorities and UNIFIL between the Blue Line and the Litani River
Watch UNIFIL’s 60-second video explainers on the Blue Line here.
What’s the Blue Line?
Stretching for 120km alongside Lebanon’s southern frontier and Israel’s northern border, the so-called “Blue Line” is “a key to peace within the area” and one of many central components of decision 1701 because the battle in 2006, with UNIFIL peacekeepers being its short-term custodian, in response to UN Peacekeeping.
Based mostly on varied historic maps, some relationship again nearly a century, the Blue Line just isn’t a border, however a short lived “line of withdrawal” set by the UN in 2000 for the sensible function of confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.
Each time Israeli or Lebanese authorities want to undertake any actions near the Blue Line, UNIFIL requests that they supply advance discover, permitting the UN mission to maintain authorities on all sides knowledgeable, to minimise any misunderstandings that might result in elevated tensions.
UN Peacekeeping additional explains the Blue Line here.
UNIFIL and Lebanese officers function one of many “Blue Barrels”, which decide the Blue Line, in southern Lebanon in 2010. (file)
How is decision 1701 carried out?
Finally, it’s as much as Israel and Lebanon to find out the precise path of a future border, in response to UN Peacekeeping, and in the meantime, UNIFIL is remitted to ensure full respect for and prevent violations of relevant provisions of resolution 1701.
“Any crossing of the Blue Line by any facet constitutes a violation of UN Safety Council decision 1701 and, as UNIFIL, we cope with all violations in the identical method,” in response to UN Peacekeeping.
UNIFIL screens the Blue Line, together with the airspace above it and thru coordination, liaising and patrolling to forestall violations, and reviews all violations to the Safety Council. The Council has requested continued reporting on the implementation of decision 1701 each 4 months.
Each time there’s an incident throughout the Blue Line, UNIFIL instantly deploys further troops to that location if wanted to keep away from a direct battle between the 2 sides and to make sure that the scenario is contained. On the similar time, it liaises with the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israel Protection Forces as a way to reverse and convey an finish to the scenario with none escalation.
A UNIFIL convoy departing Naqoura to go to its whole space of operations in southern Lebanon in July 2024. (file)
Present scenario on the bottom
Hostilities alongside and throughout the Blue Line have escalated for practically one yr following Hamas-led assaults in Israel left greater than 1,000 useless and one other 250 taken hostage in Gaza, the place the following and ongoing battle has seen Israeli navy operations set off a humanitarian disaster whereas killing practically 42,000 individuals, over 200 humanitarian workers and practically 200 journalists, as of 1 October.
Whereas Hezbollah has informed the media its assaults in opposition to Israel are to point out solidarity with Palestinians dealing with that devastating battle, Israeli armed forces have retaliated in flip with air strikes deep into Lebanon, booby-trapped pager assaults and now a floor invasion, not too long ago displacing a couple of million individuals in Lebanon. Media reviews say the continued violence has displaced about 60,000 individuals in northern Israel.
Continued exchanges of fireside throughout the Blue Line since 8 October 2023 are in repeated breach of the cessation of hostilities and in violation of decision 1701, in response to a letter the UN Secretary-Basic despatched to the Safety Council in late July.
Between 8 October 2023 and 30 June 2024, UNIFIL detected 15,101 trajectories, of which 12,459 have been from south to north of the Blue Line and a pair of,642 from north to south. Whereas most exchanges of fireside have been confined to inside just a few kilometres of both facet of the Blue Line, a number of strikes have reached so far as 130 km into Lebanon and 30 km into Israel.
UN Underneath-Secretary-Basic for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix concluded the Lebanon leg of his journey to the Center East earlier this yr, throughout which he strongly confused the necessity for de-escalation and return to a cessation of hostilities. (file)
Now what?
On 30 September, the Israeli Protection Forces notified UNIFIL of their intention to undertake restricted floor incursions into Lebanon, in response to a statement issued by the UN mission on Tuesday.
Decision 1701 is the one viable answer to carry again stability on this area
“Regardless of this harmful growth, peacekeepers stay in place,” UNFIL mentioned. “We’re commonly adjusting our posture and actions, and we’ve contingency plans able to activate if completely vital.”
The UN mission reiterated that peacekeeper security and safety is paramount, and all actors are reminded of their obligation to respect it. Right now, UNIFIL forces proceed to workers their bases and fulfill some duties. Proper now, they’re unable to hold out vehicular patrols.
In response to reviews, orders for civilians to evacuate some villages within the space have been issued by Israel. In the meantime, the UN has reiterated that civilian lives should be protected whether or not they keep or go away.
“Any crossing into Lebanon is in violation of Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a violation of decision 1701,” UNIFIL mentioned. “We urge all actors to step again from such escalatory acts, which is able to solely result in extra violence and extra bloodshed. The worth of continuous the present plan of action is just too excessive.”
Stating that civilians should be protected, civilian infrastructure should not be focused, and worldwide regulation should be revered, UNFIL mentioned “we strongly urge the events to recommit to Safety Council resolutions and 1701 as the one viable answer to carry again stability on this area.”
UNIFIL peacekeepers on a automobile patrol within the neighborhood of Tyre, south Lebanon. (file)
Can UNIFIL use drive?
Sure, in sure circumstances.
Renewed annually by the Council on the request of Lebanon, UNIFIL is a peacekeeping mission working underneath Chapter 6 of the UN Charter.
In finishing up their mandate, UNIFIL personnel could train their inherent proper of self-defence. Along with using drive past self-defence, UNIFIL could underneath sure circumstances and circumstances resort to the proportionate and gradual use of drive to:
- be sure that its space of operations just isn’t utilised for hostile actions
- resist makes an attempt by forceful means to forestall UNIFIL from discharging its duties underneath is Council-authorised mandate
- shield UN personnel, amenities, installations and tools
- make sure the safety and freedom of motion of UN personnel and humanitarian staff
- shield civilians underneath imminent menace of bodily violence
Learn the complete textual content of decision 1701 here.
