UN Resolution 1701, cornerstone of any Israel-Hezbollah truce
By Jana Choukeir
DUBAI, Nov 21 (Reuters) -A United Nations resolution that ended the last round of deadly conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006 is seen as the cornerstone of a new ceasefire being negotiated by the United States.
Adopted in August 2006, the 19-paragraph resolution was key to ending the month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006 and paving the way for long-term stability along the border.
The resolution mandated an immediate cessation of hostilities, with both parties agreeing to stop fighting. While critical, the ceasefire faced challenges and violations over the years, but it laid the foundation for ending open conflict.
Here are the resolution's main terms, and a note about subsequent violations and tensions.
RESPECT OF BLUE LINE AND SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS
Both parties must respect the Blue Line, the border between Lebanon and Israel. The resolution also creates a buffer zone between the Blue Line and the Litani River (some 30 km or about 20 miles north of the border), free of armed personnel, assets, and weapons, except those of the Lebanese authorities and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
DISARMAMENT AND WEAPONS EMBARGO OF ARMED GROUPS
The resolution calls for the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon and mandates that no arms or related materiel can be sold or supplied to Lebanon unless authorized by the government.
NO FOREIGN FORCES WITHOUT GOVERNMENT CONSENT
The resolution demands that no foreign forces be present in Lebanon without the consent of the Lebanese government. This provision aims to safeguard Lebanon's independence and prevent external influence in its internal affairs.
DEPLOYMENT OF UNIFIL AND LEBANESE TROOPS
A key element of Resolution 1701 was the expanded mandate of the UNIFIL peacekeeping force, formed in 1978 to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops that had invaded southern Lebanon early on in Lebanon's civil war.
UNIFIL was tasked in 2006 with monitoring the ceasefire, overseeing Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon, and ensuring the area remained free of armed groups except the Lebanese Army.
In parallel, Lebanon's national army was called upon to take control of southern Lebanon.
TENSIONS AND VIOLATIONS SINCE 2006
While the ceasefire largely held after the adoption of U.N. Resolution 1701, violations and tensions persisted over the years. Both sides have accused each other of provocations.
Lebanon has filed dozens of complaints to the U.N., especially about Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty, including over 35,000 airspace violations since 2006, as stated by Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in May.
Meanwhile, Israel has long complained the resolution was not implemented and Hezbollah remained armed at the border.
U.S.-led efforts for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah have underscored that the resolution remained key in mitigating or ending the latest rounds of conflict, but that it needed to be better implemented.
Reporting by Jana Choukeir, Editing by William Maclean
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
