What's New

Resources updated between Monday, August 17, 2020 and Sunday, August 23, 2020

August 21, 2020

August 20, 2020

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, United Nations, August 20, 2020

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Statement on Iran Article

Damage caused by an incendiary ballon that landed outside of a kindergarten in Sderot, August 17, 2020. (Israel Fire Department)

Balloon-borne device from Gaza starts fire outside Sderot kindergarten Document

The scene of the attack in the Old City of Jerusalem (Photo: Courtesy)

Palestinian Terrorist Stabs Israeli in Jerusalem Document

August 19, 2020

August 18, 2020

Balloon unit member launches incendiary balloons towards Israel from Gaza Strip

Balloon launches into Israel continue, as Hamas threatens escalation Document

August 17, 2020

UNIFIL forces (File photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

"On Oct. 7, 2000, an IDF patrol vehicle was attacked by a powerful bomb near Mount Dov. Hezbollah operatives crossed the border fence and abducted soldiers Adi Avitan, Omar Souad, and Benny Avraham. The attack was carried out with the help of a distraction from protesters on the border near Moshav Zerit, and mortar fire on IDF positions. An investigation of the incident discovered that surprisingly, Indian UNIFIL soldiers who were on duty at nearby outposts had filmed the events in real time and even opted not to report it to the IDF. The footage was discovered eight months after the incident. In addition, the UN troops also filmed the transfer of the kidnapped IDF soldiers some 16 hours later, and again, did not hand the footage over to Israel in time for it to take action.

There are other instances in which the UN temporary peacekeeping force – UNIFIL – has directly or indirectly hurt Israel's defense and security interests in the area and limited the IDF's ability to respond. The main claim voiced in the defense establishment at the time was that the forces had no real power and were too small to carry out their mandate of restoring peace and security and helping restore control to the South Lebanese Army.

But in 2006, after the Second Lebanon War was over, that idea crashed on the rocks of reality. The UN Security Council resolved to increase UNIFIL forces nearly fivefold, to 10,900 personnel, and expanded both its enforcement mandate and budget. Nevertheless, the increased forces failed in both motivation and efficacy when it came to taking action against violations on the Lebanese side of the 'Blue Line.' Since then, Hezbollah has dug attack tunnels under the border into Israel under the very noses of the UN troops, with the hope of carrying out a mega-terror attack against communities in northern Israel.
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UNIFIL: An opportunity for change Article

Arson fire (File photo courtesy Israel Fire and Rescue Services)

Gaza Arson Balloons Spark 28 Fires in Israel Document