What it is about:
The newly established Movement for Settlement in South Lebanon is advocating for Israeli settlements extending up to the Litani River, challenging current borders and highlighting its security-centered vision.
Why it matters:
This movement is pushing an important geopolitical change, grounding its claims in historical references and aiming to advance Israel’s security by pushing hostile groups like Hezbollah further northward.
Details:
On June 10, the Movement for Settlement in South Lebanon reportedly deployed drones and balloons from Israeli settlements Hanita and Adamit into Lebanon, distributing leaflets in Hebrew and Arabic. These messages instructed South Lebanon residents to evacuate and marked the territory as historically Jewish.
Building Support:
The movement, founded on April 10 by Prof. Amos Azaria and his colleagues, has quickly amassed over 800 members. It has organized virtual conferences to engage participants on topics ranging from historical claims to legal aspects of establishing settlements in South Lebanon.
Media and Public Reactions:
Reactions from Lebanese media were swift, circulating a four-minute video that questioned the movement’s motives. Meanwhile, in Israel, there has been considerable interest and support, as indicated by the significant number of Israeli settlers who participated in the movement’s virtual conferences.
Strategic Discussions:
Conference topics included “Lebanon in the Bible,” “Lebanon from the Second Temple Period to Today,” and “Legal Aspects of Settlement in Lebanon,” positioning the movement’s agenda within a deep historical and legal context.
The Bigger Picture:
Statements by influential Israeli figures, such as Daniella Weiss from the Nahala settlement movement, alongside media coverage, indicate that talks of settling in Southern Lebanon aren’t new and are now gaining formal traction.
Implications:
As this movement gains momentum, it could potentially alter both geographical and diplomatic landscapes, setting a precedent for future Israeli policies regarding borders and territory defense.
This story was first published on ynetnews.com.