UN cartographer to plot disputed Shaba Farms' border boundaries
Lebanon claims the farms are its territory, while Israel says they are part of Syrian territory conquered in 1967.
By Aluf Benn Tags: Syria LebanonThe United Nations cartographer Miklos Pinter is in Israel this week to move ahead on the specifics of marking the controversial boundaries of the Shaba Farms on the slopes of Mount Hermon, government sources in Jerusalem said.
Pinter said a few weeks ago that based on maps and other documents he had received from the Lebanese government, the area of the farms was between 20 to 40 square kilometers.
Pinter, who had been the UN's chief cartographer, headed the team that marked the "blue line," the Israel-Lebanon boundary following Israel's withdrawal from Southern Lebanon in May 2000. He had since retired, but was called back into service to help solve the dispute over Shaba.
Lebanon claims that the farms are its territory, while Israel says they are part of Syrian territory conquered in 1967 along with the Golan Heights, and should be dealt with as part of negotiations with the Syrians, a position the UN supported in 2000.
However Lebanon never gave up its claim, and during last year's war, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora proposed that Israel "deposit" the disputed territory with the UN until Syria and Lebanon mark the border between them and decide the matter. The UN agreed to mark the area as an interim step until diplomatic progress is made. The UN's action on the matter is seen as a counterweight to moving ahead on Israel's demand to monitor weapons smuggling from Syria to Hezbollah.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is said to have been considering a withdrawal from the Shaba Farms before the Second Lebanon War, although he did not move ahead on it. During the war, Olmert rejected a U.S. demand to transfer the territory to the UN, arguing that the step would be a prize to the terror and aggression of the Hezbollah.
Olmert reportedly told foreign officials a few months ago that Israel would agree to solve the problem as part of an overall agreement on the Golan Heights. He is even said to have promised a "festive ceremony" transfering the area, if the UN determined that the land belonged to Lebanon. Other Israeli officials are said to have responded with a "yes, but..." to the proposal that Israel withdraw from the Shaba Farms.
But according to officials who have dealt with the matter, Israel has good reason not to withdraw from Sahba. First of all, it would be seen as an acknowledgment of failure in the war and an achievement for Hezbollah. Second, the area's location on the slopes of Mount Hermon is of military-strategic importance. Third, the events of Genesis 15:9-17, the "covenant between the pieces" between God and Abraham, is said to have been made at an ancient site in the area of the Shaba Farms; it has become a destination of Hasidic pilgrimage during the week that Torah portion is read, and the Orthodox parties are sure to reject the withdrawal. Fourth, the area is covered by the Golan Law, which requires a majority of 61 lawmakers before it can be transfered to foreign hands.
For these reasons, Israel may not agree in the near future to serous discussion of a pullout from the Shaba Farms, and the matter will remain a point of contention on the Israel-Lebanese border.
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IDF troops guarding the disputed Shaba Farms section of the border with Lebanon. (AP) |
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In short, Israel "defends" Syrian territory against unproven Lebanese claims. Israel "in love" with Syria - who would have thought of this?
The so called Sheba Farms region is a part of our ancient Danite Lands, I also note lebanon is in occupation of other ancestral Danite Lands in the region of the Hizbani river.As Chief for life of the World Union of Danites I have brought this matter up with the third assistant to the second assistant to the undersecretary of the secretary for Small Peoples at the UN.We Danites will not rest untill all foreign occupiers have been removed from our Lands.'Dan is a lion cub that springs forth from Bashan"
Maybe I just have a longer memory than some,but as I remember the land that Israel occupied in 1967 and 1973 is subject to the provisions of UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.The Lebanese and Syrian governments have conveniently forgotten that those territories are subject to the provision of return of land for peace between the neighbouring states.The easiest way for Syria and Lebanon to regain land is to make peace with Israel.Then Lebanon and Syria can argue over ownership of the Shebaa Farms.
since they conquered it in its war with Syrian, after being attack by them... This is how borders have been drawn since forever. Every country today exists with its own borders, because that how the land was conquered. If we're talking about giving back land, they the US wouldn't even exist, China would be very small, etc etc... basically we would have to redraw every single border in the world. Aside from that, even if Israel gives back Syrian land to the Lebanese Hezbollah, it would never guarantee peace. Hezbellah, just as most other Israeli neighbor countries do not even recognize the Jewish State anyway. They would still keep attacking Israel. If they want the land back, then go get it. Bring it on! Let's see who stands, and who falls.
what about the release of the bodys of the israeli soldiers that were murdered wasnt there a resolution for that or is land worth more than human beings.
Drowsy old UN
H: "The UN has already stated that ISRAEL HAS WITHDRAWN FROM ALL LEBANESE TERRITORY." Yes, with a UN SC Resolution, I believe. Another UN SC Res has since said this: "Requests the Secretary General to develop, in liaison with relevant international actors and the concerned parties, proposals to implement the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, and resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), including disarmament, and for delineation of the international borders of Lebanon, especially in those areas where the border is disputed or uncertain, including by dealing with the Chebaa farms area, and to present to the Security Council those proposals within thirty days" That's Res 1701, and that gives the Secretary General the authority to decide the fate of Shaba, and Israel did agree to accept 1701 last year.
IF the cartographer determines that the Shaba Farms are part of Lebanon then I can't see the point of Israel WANTING to keep it. While Shaba was regarded as part of occupied Syrian territory then Israel had every right to station troops on it, but if it becomes recognized as Lebanese territory then Israel's best recourse has to be to say "Oops! Honest mistake! Here ya' go, buddy, no hard feelings hey?". After all, apart from wounded pride, keeping up an occupation of Lebanese soil helps Israel....how, exactly? All it does is justify Hezbollah picking up a stick and poking Israel with it again. Why would a dinky little area be worth THAT sort of grief?
The UN had already certified Israel's withdrawal. Let the Arab League decide who owns the place. If they say it's Lebanon, give it back- we have no beef with Lebanon as a nation, only with Hezbollah as a proxy of Iran, which is effectively occupying Lebanon on Iran's behalf.
I believe that giving Shebaa to Lebanon is in Israel's and Lebanon's interests because it will withdraw one of the claims of Hizbullah for rearming itself: restoring occupied land. However, i believe there could be a hidden conspiracy where Israel does not want Hizbullah to be dismanteled because they want Isreali community to stay under security threat.
I have no Idea why #2 says Lebanon proved its case, actually Syria proved its case by providing better maps etc....As for never having peace with lebanon if its not given back, returning it won't necessarily translate into a larger margin of quiet on the border. Only the possibility thereof. stock markets deal in possibilities, should safety of citizens be in that category?
Even Syrians don't want to draw a map proving Sheba was Lebanese.The whole thing is based on an "oral agreement " between Leb & Syria some few years ago,AFTER 67.
Israel should not be cooperating with this or any cartographer. The UN has already stated that ISRAEL HAS WITHDRAWN FROM ALL LEBANESE TERRITORY. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that this man will probably report that the UN made a mistake and Israel must leave the area. If Syria wishes to declare that this territory belongs to an independent Lebanon let them do so. This will not happen because many in Syria believe that Lebanon is Syrian. '67 was a defensive war. Israel has the right to be in the areas she is in and keep them if she wishes. Look at the rearranging that took place after WW II.
My friend, understand that Israel will not have peace with Lebanon if they don't give up the Shebaa farms, these are lebanese territory, amnd this has been proven to the UN and the world. I don't care what your Torah says, or if it is strategic land, the point is: it is NOT yours. The sooner u get out of there the better will be for Israel.
Farms. Start acting like a sovereign nation and stop acting like you owe your existence to the UN. Define your borders as you see fit like all other great nations do, taking into account your citizens security needs. Your were attacked by Syria 5 times. Whatever you say the borders are, they are. International law is firmly behind this action.