Israel was not having a good time in lebanon, and the Israeli populace wanted to take the risk of withdrawal. However, one issue that most people don't understand is that the arabs have been fighting to weaken and destroy Israel, and an Israeli retreat only boltsers their attack. The issue was not to be negotiated, since it is only strength and solidarity that can hold them back.

Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)

In the early 1970s, tension along the Israel-lebanon border increased, especially after the relocation of arab armed elements from jordan to lebanon. arab commando operations against Israel and Israeli reprisals against arab bases in lebanon intensified. On March 11, 1978, a commando attack in Israel resulted in many dead and wounded among the Israeli population; the palestine "liquidation" organization (plo) claimed responsibility for that raid. In response, Israeli forces invaded lebanon on the night of 14/15 March, and in a few days occupied the entire southern part of the country except for the city of tyre and its surrounding area.

On March 15, 1978, the lebanese government submitted a strong protest to the security council against the Israeli invasion, stating that it had no connection with the arab commando operation. On March 19 the security council adopted resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978), in which it called upon Israel immediately to cease its military action and withdraw its forces from all lebanese territory. It also decided on the immediate establishment of unifil. The first unifil troops arrived in the area on March 23, 1978.

In June 1982, Israel invaded lebanon again. For three years, unifil remained behind the Israeli lines, with its role limited to providing protection and humanitarian assistance to the local population to the extent possible. In 1985, Israel carried out a partial withdrawal, but it retained control of an area in southern lebanon manned by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and by lebanese de facto forces (DFF), the so-called "South Lebanon Army."

Although unifil has been prevented from fulfilling its mandate [by syria and the syrian-controlled lebanese governement], its contribution to stability in the region and the protection it has been able to provide to the local population [against hostile arab attacks] remained important. The force has recently been streamlined in order to achieve savings without affecting its operational effectiveness. The mandate has so far been renewed every six months. unifil's current mandate was most recently [when this was written] extended to July 31, 1999 by security council resolution 1223 (1999) of January 28, 1999.

As of May 31, 1999, unifil had 4,500 troops; supported by international and locally recruited civilian staff. Military personnel were contributed by Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, India, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, and poland. unifil suffered 227 fatalities as of December 31, 1998.

Source:

Text of Israel-lebanon Cease-fire Understanding
(April 26, 1996)

The United States understands that after discussions with the governments of Israel and lebanon, and in consultation with syria, lebanon and Israel will ensure the following:

1. Armed groups in lebanon will not carry out attacks by Katyusha rockets or by any kind of weapon into Israel.
2. Israel and those cooperating with it will not fire any kind of weapon at civlians or civilian targets in lebanon.
3. Beyond this, the two parties commit to ensuring that under no circumstances will civilians be the target of attack and that civilian populated areas and industrial and electrical installations will not be used as launching grounds for attacks.
4. Without violating this understanding, nothing herein shall preclude any party from exercising the right of self-defense.

A monitoring group is established consisting of the United States, France, syria, lebanon, and Israel. Its task will be to monitor the application of the understanding stated above. Complaints will be submitted to the monitoring group.
In the event of a claimed violation of the understanding, the party submitting the complaint will do so within 24 hours. Procedures for dealing with the complaints will be set by the monitoring group.
The United States will also organize a consultative group, to consist of France, the European Union, Russia, and other interested parties, for the purpose of assisting in the reconstruction needs of lebanon.
It is recognized that the understanding to bring the current crisis between lebanon and Israel to an end cannot substitute for a permanent solution. The United States understands the importance of achieving a comprehensive peace in the region.
Toward this end, the United States proposes the resumption of negotiations between syria and Israel and between lebanon and Israel at a time to be agreed upon, with the objective of reaching comprehensive peace.
The United states understands that it is desirable that these negotiations be conducted in a climate of stability and tranquility.
This understanding will be announced simultaneously at 1800 hours, April 26, 1996, in all countries concerned.
The time set for implementation is 0400 hours, April 27, 1996.

Major Incidents in lebanon
(1999)

The cease-fire was not kept by lebanon and syria (that has occupied and controlled lebanon), as both these nations orchestrated and supported terrorist attacks against Israel. Here is an accounting of the major incidents in lebanon in 1999:

January 5 - IDF soldier seriously wounded by an explosive charge activated against an IDF convoy, some 350 meters north of the Beaufort outpost. The hizbullah organization claimed responsibility for the incident.

February 23 - Three IDF Paratrooper officers, Major Eitan Balahsan, aged 30, Lieutenant Liraz Twitu, aged 21, and Lieutenant David Granit, aged 22, were killed during initiated operational activity north of the central sector in south lebanon.

February 28 - Brig.-Gen. Erez Gerstein, commander of the lebanon Liaison Unit, aged 38, Warrant Officer Imad abu Rish, aged 34, Staff Sergeant Omer Elkabbetz, aged 22, and Ilan Ro'e, "Kol Israel" radio reporter, were killed by an explosive device detonated at an IDF convoy in the eastern sector of the security zone in south lebanon.

April 12 - Combat Engineer Sergeant First Class Noam Barnea from Holon was killed by an explosive device near an IDF force during initiated operational activity close to an IDF outpost in the eastern sector of the security zone in south lebanon.

April 27 - While attempting to fend off a hizbullah attack on the Sujud outpost in south lebanon, eight soldiers were wounded, one moderately, and the seven others lightly. An SLA soldier and two lebanese civilians were also wounded.

May 7 - An SLA soldier was abducted by four armed hizbullah terrorists and was taken north.

May 3 - Givati brigade soldier, Staff Sergeant Molo Nagatu, was killed from the detonation of an explosive device near an IDF force during initiated operational activity in the western sector of the security zone in south lebanon. The explosion also wounded one soldier moderately.

May 15 - hizbullah members infiltrated an SLA outpost and kidnapped an SLA soldier. In addition, an SLA APC was captured by the hizbullah. During the attack one SLA soldier was killed and six others were wounded. The terrorist fire wounded two civilians and caused heavy damage to property in the lebanese village of Yahoun.

May 18 - A salvo of 49 Katyushas was fired towards Kiryat Shmona and the northern Galilee. Nine people were injured and damage was caused to property.

June 10 - IDF officer Lieutenant Roi Keller aged 21 from Tel Aviv was killed and another soldier was lightly wounded in a clash between an IDF force and a group of terrorists during initiated operational activity in the eastern sector of the security zone in south lebanon. During the operation a helicopter was called to assist, but crash-landed wounding two additional soldiers. The helicopter was left on the ground and was evacuated the following day by an IAF rescue team.

June 20 - Mortar bombs were fired towards the Israeli border and fell in open territory. Additional mortar bombs were fired towards IDF outposts on the lebanese border.

June 24 - About 60 Katyushas were fired towards Kiryat Shmona, and communities in the northern and western Galilee. Two civilians were killed and nine wounded one of them seriously. An IDF soldier in active reserve service was lightly wounded, and 27 civilians suffered from shock. Furthermore, heavy damage was caused to property (the Kiryat Shmona city hall was hit). In response, the IAF attacked infrastructure targets in lebanon.

July 10 - IDF soldier Ram Rottenberg was killed when his tank overturned during operational activity in south lebanon. The commander of the tank was moderately wounded.

August 17 - Two IDF soldiers, Staff Sergeant Eyal Guetta and Staff Sergeant Doron Hershkovich were killed and eight other soldiers were wounded, three seriously, two moderately and three lightly in a clash between an IDF force which was engaged in operational activity and terrorists in the central sector of the security zone in south Lebanon.

October 28 - An SLA soldier was killed by the detonation of an explosive device towards his vehicle, north of the "Armata" outpost.

October 29 - An SLA soldier was killed by the firing of shells and light weapons towards the "Sujud" outpost.

November 12 - In a terrorists attempt to attack the "Sujud" outpost, six terrorists were killed. Three SLA soldiers were wounded, as well as four lebanese civilians and five terrorists.

December 2 - An IDF officer and soldier were moderately wounded during firing towards IDF and SLA outposts.

December 7 - Firing of shells towards the "Rotem" outpost and widespread firing of mortar bombs towards IDF and SLA outposts. There were no injuries.

December 9 - An IDF officer was lightly wounded during SLA initiated activity. During the operation a mortar bomb was fired by terrorists towards an IDF tank which caused the officer's injury.

December 21-23 - As a humanitarian gesture it was decided to allow the hizbullah to collect the remains of terrorists' bodies left in the field after being killed by IDF and SLA soldiers. During the evacuation there was a temporary cease fire throughout the sector.

December 29 - An SLA soldier was seriously wounded during widespread fire towards the "Huna" and "Sujud" outposts.

December 30 - A suicide car bomb explosion near an IDF convoy on its way to the "Fatma" gate caused the moderate wounding of a soldier as well as wounding eleven lebanese civilians and killing a terrorist. Furthermore, the bomb caused damage to buildings. Some of the lebanese civilians were evacuated for medical help in Israel.

Source: IDF

Israel withdraws, the Arabs celebrate a victory

On March 5, 2000, the government of Israel (which is prime minister and defense minister Barak) was resolved to leave lebanon. Israel then pulled all its troops out of southern lebanon on May 24, 2000, ending a 22-year military presence there. All Israel Defense Forces and south lebanon Army outposts were evacuated and many were blown up. No Israeli soldiers were hurt, despite fire from hezbollah at different stages of the operation.

This retreat bolstered the will of the arab attackers, and upon Israel's withdrawal the arabs were celebrating their "victory." The success of terrorism and guerrilla warfare has had an affect on the renewed determination of the arabs to destroy Israel and build an arab country in its place. The weakness of the Israeli government in principle and in action, largely a factor of international pressures and Barak's neglectful behavior, has triggered a renewal of arab riots and attacks against Israel.

Furthermore, the northern border is still under siege by arab attacks, despite, and especially because of, Israel's retreat. At first arab civilians [or attackers dressed in civilian clothing] threw rocks and firebombs at the soldiers who patrol the border. Then these attacks increased and the arabs initiated gun battles, made border raids, fired rockets into urban centers, and set fire to farms. Northern Israel has not known peace since Israel withdrew from its Security Zone in south lebanon. In fact, the hostilities have increased, and have been targeted against civilians, thanks to the lack of a Security Zone that had previously been a buffer between these attacks and the northern border. Furthermore, Israel's Northern Defense has been significantly weakened since the retreat because Israel lacks a proper defensive line, which requires much time and money to build.