Government officials gave the IDF the green light on the Sabbath to complete the troop withdrawal ahead of Yom Kippur, which begins on Sunday evening. The last several hundred soldiers left southern Lebanon during the course of Saturday night, resulting in Israel’s total compliance with the UN-brokered ceasefire agreement, Resolution 1701.
The IDF announced that it continues to view the Lebanese government responsible for ensuring quiet and security from its territory.
Northern Command Will Remain Vigilant
Despite the presence of the international stabilization force under the auspices of UNIFIL, the IDF’s Northern Command will carefully monitor events in southern Lebanon. Neither the international force nor the Lebanese military troops plan to act to disarm Hizbullah.
Reinforcements will remain in northern border outposts and measures will be taken to protect the northern border against a possible terrorist attack.
Last week, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz released statements that Israel will not tolerate armed civilians in proximity to the border, as occurred during an anti-Israel protest in Lebanon last week. Halutz, backed by Defense Minister Amir Peretz, indicated soldiers will fire at the lower extremities of such persons.
Disputes Still Exist Regarding International Force
The government decided to complete the withdrawal despite a failure to reach agreement between the IDF and the international force regarding the latter's role vis-?-vis Hizbullah.
Another bone of contention is the border village of Rajar, which is half in Israel and half in Lebanon. A limited IDF force will remain in Rajar until the dispute is ironed out. Senior commanders admit this is a weak link in the border chain, providing an access location for terror operations.
Soldiers Still in Captivity
IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev remain captive in Lebanon, despite the IDF withdrawal - leaving their families in limbo.
“The fighting has stopped, the blockade was lifted, the troops have now left, and we have still not received any sign regarding the well-being of the soldiers,” stated family members. Some of them expressed anger at Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has broken several promises regarding the soldiers.
During the war, the prime minister stated repeatedly that Israel would not agree to any ceasefire that does not include the “immediate and unconditional release” of the captive soldiers. This was not actualized, and to date, not even representatives of the International Red Cross have been permitted to see them due to Hizbullah’s hard-line refusal.
Egypt and Jordan are expected to announce a joint initiative to speed up their release, in exchange for hundreds of Arab terrorist prisoners held in Israel.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Anan, involved in efforts to obtain the Israelis' release, has stated he believes they are alive, based on unconfirmed reports. To date, there have been no signs proving this to be the case.
It is believed they were wounded during the terror attack along the northern border when they were taken captive, but their conditions remain a mystery at this time.
Gen. (ret.) Uzi Dayan, who heads the public forum to obtain the soldiers' release, stated the government missed a number of opportunities to receive signs regarding the soldiers’ condition. He was referring to Jerusalem’s agreeing to the ceasefire, lifting the blockade, and withdrawing forces - all without receiving evidence of the soldiers' condition.
Next Conflict Not Too Far In the Future
Intelligence community officials are pessimistic regarding the future along the border with Lebanon, with most seemingly in agreement that the next conflict is not too far off in the future.
No one appears willing to accept responsibility for disarming Hizbullah, despite the deployment of Lebanese forces, international troops and the UNIFIL presence. To date, UN officials have indicated that their responsibility includes “monitoring” rather than enforcement.
A number of government officials concur with the assessment, including former defense minister Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor). He stated that Hizbullah has not abandoned its agenda of attacking Israel, and still possesses enough weapons to carry out future attacks.
The IDF announced that it continues to view the Lebanese government responsible for ensuring quiet and security from its territory.
Northern Command Will Remain Vigilant
Despite the presence of the international stabilization force under the auspices of UNIFIL, the IDF’s Northern Command will carefully monitor events in southern Lebanon. Neither the international force nor the Lebanese military troops plan to act to disarm Hizbullah.
Reinforcements will remain in northern border outposts and measures will be taken to protect the northern border against a possible terrorist attack.
Last week, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz released statements that Israel will not tolerate armed civilians in proximity to the border, as occurred during an anti-Israel protest in Lebanon last week. Halutz, backed by Defense Minister Amir Peretz, indicated soldiers will fire at the lower extremities of such persons.
Disputes Still Exist Regarding International Force
The government decided to complete the withdrawal despite a failure to reach agreement between the IDF and the international force regarding the latter's role vis-?-vis Hizbullah.
Another bone of contention is the border village of Rajar, which is half in Israel and half in Lebanon. A limited IDF force will remain in Rajar until the dispute is ironed out. Senior commanders admit this is a weak link in the border chain, providing an access location for terror operations.
Soldiers Still in Captivity
IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev remain captive in Lebanon, despite the IDF withdrawal - leaving their families in limbo.
“The fighting has stopped, the blockade was lifted, the troops have now left, and we have still not received any sign regarding the well-being of the soldiers,” stated family members. Some of them expressed anger at Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has broken several promises regarding the soldiers.
During the war, the prime minister stated repeatedly that Israel would not agree to any ceasefire that does not include the “immediate and unconditional release” of the captive soldiers. This was not actualized, and to date, not even representatives of the International Red Cross have been permitted to see them due to Hizbullah’s hard-line refusal.
Egypt and Jordan are expected to announce a joint initiative to speed up their release, in exchange for hundreds of Arab terrorist prisoners held in Israel.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Anan, involved in efforts to obtain the Israelis' release, has stated he believes they are alive, based on unconfirmed reports. To date, there have been no signs proving this to be the case.
It is believed they were wounded during the terror attack along the northern border when they were taken captive, but their conditions remain a mystery at this time.
Gen. (ret.) Uzi Dayan, who heads the public forum to obtain the soldiers' release, stated the government missed a number of opportunities to receive signs regarding the soldiers’ condition. He was referring to Jerusalem’s agreeing to the ceasefire, lifting the blockade, and withdrawing forces - all without receiving evidence of the soldiers' condition.
Next Conflict Not Too Far In the Future
Intelligence community officials are pessimistic regarding the future along the border with Lebanon, with most seemingly in agreement that the next conflict is not too far off in the future.
No one appears willing to accept responsibility for disarming Hizbullah, despite the deployment of Lebanese forces, international troops and the UNIFIL presence. To date, UN officials have indicated that their responsibility includes “monitoring” rather than enforcement.
A number of government officials concur with the assessment, including former defense minister Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor). He stated that Hizbullah has not abandoned its agenda of attacking Israel, and still possesses enough weapons to carry out future attacks.