This time, the prime minister will consider whether to accept the recommendation of former Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter (now expected to receive a top slot on the Kadima Knesset list) to unilaterally withdraw from the Arab village of Rajar on the Israel – Lebanon border.
Since Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon five and a half years ago, the village has been divided between the two countries. Though the border runs through the center of town, no border fence has been erected in order to ease conditions for the town’s residents.
As a result, anybody living in or visiting Rajar can easily stroll or even drive into Lebanese territory and vice versa. Over the past few years, the town has become notorious for smuggling drugs and other contraband from Lebanon into Israel.
The town, and the IDF soldiers defending it, have also become easy targets for Hezbollah terrorists operating in southern Lebanon.
A few weeks ago, Hezbollah forces attacked the village in an effort to kidnap IDF troops. The attackers were beaten back, but the incident fueled debate about how to properly defend the town, or failing that, withdraw from it.
Rajar’s residents, at least those living on the Israeli side of the town, are full fledged Arab citizens of Israel. They carry Israeli identification cards, receive National Insurance benefits, and vote in Knesset elections. Most of them are not enthusiastic about the possibility of waking up one morning as Lebanese.
Many villagers said they would organize demonstrations, if the prime minister decides to withdraw from the town. “The residents have become very pressured,” said town spokesman, Najib Hatib.
“When they divided the town, nobody asked us,” he added. We’re in a situation where tomorrow morning they can tell us they’re withdrawing, without giving us any advance notice.”
Most commentators say that Sharon will more likely order measures to boost security in the village, rather than order a withdrawal. Neither the IDF nor the National Security Council favors unilateral withdrawal.
One Israeli politician, Avigdor Lieberman, a former Transportation Minister who heads the Israel Beitaynu (Israel is Our Home) party, has come out in favor of withdrawing from Rajar. He said, “the withdrawal would make it legitimate to trade territory and population, so that a Jewish majority in the land of Israel is assured for many generations.”
Lieberman’s party favors trading Arab populated areas in Israel’s pre-1967 borders for certain settlement blocs in Judea and Samaria.
Unlike the rest of Israel’s Arab citizens, the Arabs of Rajar are members of the Allawite Islamic sect. Syria’s ruling clique is dominated by the country’s Allawite minority which includes the country’s president Bashir Assad.
Israel conquered Rajar from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War, as part of the Golan Heights. The town was formally annexed to Israel along with the rest of the Golan, making it sovereign Israeli territory. Syria, however, no longer claims the village, saying it should be a part of Lebanon.
Despite the possibility of a de facto withdrawal, Israel does not recognize the Lebanese claim to the village. The United Nations, which affirmed the border between Israel and Lebanon following the Israeli withdrawal in 2000, also does not recognize Lebanese sovereignty in the part of the town currently held by Israel.
Since Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon five and a half years ago, the village has been divided between the two countries. Though the border runs through the center of town, no border fence has been erected in order to ease conditions for the town’s residents.
As a result, anybody living in or visiting Rajar can easily stroll or even drive into Lebanese territory and vice versa. Over the past few years, the town has become notorious for smuggling drugs and other contraband from Lebanon into Israel.
The town, and the IDF soldiers defending it, have also become easy targets for Hezbollah terrorists operating in southern Lebanon.
A few weeks ago, Hezbollah forces attacked the village in an effort to kidnap IDF troops. The attackers were beaten back, but the incident fueled debate about how to properly defend the town, or failing that, withdraw from it.
Rajar’s residents, at least those living on the Israeli side of the town, are full fledged Arab citizens of Israel. They carry Israeli identification cards, receive National Insurance benefits, and vote in Knesset elections. Most of them are not enthusiastic about the possibility of waking up one morning as Lebanese.
Many villagers said they would organize demonstrations, if the prime minister decides to withdraw from the town. “The residents have become very pressured,” said town spokesman, Najib Hatib.
“When they divided the town, nobody asked us,” he added. We’re in a situation where tomorrow morning they can tell us they’re withdrawing, without giving us any advance notice.”
Most commentators say that Sharon will more likely order measures to boost security in the village, rather than order a withdrawal. Neither the IDF nor the National Security Council favors unilateral withdrawal.
One Israeli politician, Avigdor Lieberman, a former Transportation Minister who heads the Israel Beitaynu (Israel is Our Home) party, has come out in favor of withdrawing from Rajar. He said, “the withdrawal would make it legitimate to trade territory and population, so that a Jewish majority in the land of Israel is assured for many generations.”
Lieberman’s party favors trading Arab populated areas in Israel’s pre-1967 borders for certain settlement blocs in Judea and Samaria.
Unlike the rest of Israel’s Arab citizens, the Arabs of Rajar are members of the Allawite Islamic sect. Syria’s ruling clique is dominated by the country’s Allawite minority which includes the country’s president Bashir Assad.
Israel conquered Rajar from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War, as part of the Golan Heights. The town was formally annexed to Israel along with the rest of the Golan, making it sovereign Israeli territory. Syria, however, no longer claims the village, saying it should be a part of Lebanon.
Despite the possibility of a de facto withdrawal, Israel does not recognize the Lebanese claim to the village. The United Nations, which affirmed the border between Israel and Lebanon following the Israeli withdrawal in 2000, also does not recognize Lebanese sovereignty in the part of the town currently held by Israel.