On this Friday, a group of approximately 800 Hasidic settlers gathered to pray at the tomb of Rabbi Rav Ashi, a significant religious landmark. This site is situated along the Blue Line, which marks the boundary between Israel and Lebanon. Positioned between an Israeli military post and a UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) base, the tomb offers a view of the southern Lebanese village of Houla in the Marjayoun district. Locally, the site is regarded as the shrine of Shaykh al-Abbad, a prominent Muslim scholar from the 15th century, according to southern Lebanese tradition.
For the first time, the visit was supervised by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), as reported by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (KAN). Hebrew media had indicated that the Israeli military was taking steps to oversee the settlers’ trip, following earlier incidents in which Israeli settlers entered the area without military coordination. These unauthorized entries had resulted in confrontations with soldiers, arrests, and tensions in the region.
In response to the settlers’ visit, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) issued a statement condemning the action. The LAF accused Israel of deliberately facilitating the entry of settlers into Lebanese territory, describing it as a direct violation of Lebanese sovereignty. The statement further emphasized that this act was a breach of international laws, UN Security Council resolutions, and the terms of various agreements, including Resolution 1701, which is intended to preserve peace and security along the Lebanese-Israeli border. The LAF also indicated that they were closely monitoring the situation and working with the five-nation committee overseeing the ceasefire agreement, in cooperation with UNIFIL.
This recent visit is not the first instance of Israeli settlers entering southern Lebanon. A significant previous occurrence took place in November of the previous year, when an Israeli army commander unlawfully escorted a researcher into Lebanese territory to examine an ancient fortress. The mission ended tragically, as the researcher and an Israeli soldier were ambushed and killed by Lebanese resistance forces. Following this event, the chief of staff of Israel’s Golani Brigade took responsibility for the incident and resigned from his post.
Israeli settler organizations have long supported the establishment of illegal settlements on Lebanese soil and have even pushed for the annexation of southern Lebanon. In December, after the ceasefire had been established, a radical settler group claimed to have crossed into Lebanon and set up an outpost. The Israeli military, however, insisted that the incident occurred on the Israeli side of the border and stated that the group was promptly dispersed.
Despite the ceasefire agreement and its withdrawal deadline of February 18, Israeli forces continue to occupy strategic locations in southern Lebanon, such as Labbouneh, Mount Blat, Owayda Hill, Aaziyyeh, and Hammamis Hill. These actions have persisted well beyond the expiration of the agreed-upon withdrawal deadline. Since the ceasefire was signed in November, Israel has violated the agreement over 1,300 times, with frequent airspace incursions and ongoing military activity along the border.
These repeated violations have heightened tensions between Israel and Lebanon, exacerbating the already volatile situation along the border. The actions of both Israeli settlers and the Israeli military continue to contribute to the complex geopolitical conflict, with disputes over sovereignty, the presence of illegal settlements, and the enforcement of international agreements continuing to challenge efforts toward lasting peace in the region.
