Israeli officials are planning to withdraw IDF forces from the disputed border town Ghajar, which straddles the United Nations-drawn boundary between Israel and southern Lebanon. The town’s southern half lies in Israel, while the northern half lies in Lebanese territory.
Israeli officials would like to complete a pullback before the upcoming Lebanese elections in June in order to strengthen moderate forces in the country against the Hizbullah terrorist group, which both Israel and the U.S. fear may win the elections.
However, spokesmen for both the Prime Minister’s Office and the Foreign Ministry declined to comment on when a withdrawal might take place, when contacted by Israel National News.
Ghajar, a village which lies between the Golan Heights and the northern Galilee, became part of Israel after the 1967 Six Day War. The village expanded northward into Lebanese territory after Israel invaded south Lebanon during the 1982 First Lebanon War. Israel withdrew from the northern half of the village in 2000, but returned during the Second Lebanon War in 2006.
Negotiations are currently underway to return the village to Lebanese control. One of the sensitive issues at hand is that many residents in the northern half of the village are dual Israeli-Lebanese citizens, and some prefer Israeli sovereignty. In addition, the IDF claims that Hizbullah made use of the northern half of the village prior to 2006 to spy on Israeli forces and also tried to stage an attack on soldiers from the area.
Beirut based newspaper The Daily Star reported last month that Israeli officials, the Lebanese army, and the UN had completed an agreement to transfer control of the village to Lebanon. UNIFIL forces would remain in control of the northern half of the village, while the Lebanese army would take up positions in the surrounding terrain. A similar agreement fell apart in 2007 when the Lebanese army pulled out of the deal.
U.S. officials would also like Israel to move forward with the pullout before the elections in Lebanon. U.S. envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell discussed the issue with Israeli officials during his recent trip to the region. The withdrawal may take time, however, because residents of the village are expected to petition to the Supreme Court against the decision.