Shebaa Farms
By Rashad Abou Ghaida & Samer Issa, Staff Writers

Beirut, Lebanon - With the long awaited withdrawal of the Israeli forces from Southern Lebanon in the year 2000, the Lebanese community, especially in the south, has transformed May 25th of each consecutive year as a new independence day, celebrating the largest return of annexed land since Israel forcefully occupied it during the late stages of the civil war.

During this period of liberation, the overjoyed Lebanese experienced an increase in patriotism, especially when their country had just regained sovereignty over most, if not all of its land. However, when it is Israel that’s handing back your land, be sure to be prepared for a short-lived celebration, Israeli style. A state of shock spread throughout the country after the Lebanese people were informed that UN Resolution 425 was not implemented to its fullest. An area that was erased from the peoples’ minds, called Shebaa farms, returned to the forefront of Lebanese concerns. This occupied region in the south of Lebanon is a collection of 14 farms that add up to a total of 25 kilometers squared. The distance of these farms from direct Lebanese authority and sovereignty opened the way for an agreement between Syria and Lebanon that limited smuggling of goods between their borders. This agreement occurred in the mid-1950 and focused on the necessity to facilitate a provisional police station, which was known as the Zibdeen Station. Moreover, the power Syria had over Lebanon increased at a time where Lebanon was trying to face problems that stemmed from the 1958 revolts during Camille Chamoun's presidency. The follow up of the Shebaa farms was not taken to the UN council for resolution because the history of Israel’s foreign policy concerning occupied territory is evident, especially on the Palestinian front; “we’ll do what we want, when we want and how we want”. Solutions for this problem between both countries worsened after Israel occupied the Golan in 1967, thus adding another party to the conflict.

Israel until now considers the Shebaa farms to be part of the Syrian territory and hence, they are not obliged to give Lebanon back its land as resolution 425 stresses. The Lebanese believe that the international community is not going further in-depth concerning the ownership of these farms because they are biased towards Israel. There are two reasons why Israel wants to keep this land. First, the land’s copious water supply is vital to a country that is known for its deficient levels of this resource. Second, the geographical location of these farms opens the way for Israel to have a post open to Lebanon, Syria, and Cyprus. In other words, it is an extremely advantageous strategic position, especially in warfare.  A large number of Lebanese activists continue to raise their voices concerning the identity of these farms, but to no avail, there has been little interest by the international community that could help Lebanon.

In order to claim the Shebaa farms, the Lebanese must produce an official document from the Syrian government to the UN which claims that the land does indeed belong to Lebanon. Lately, rumors have circulated over the possibility of secret agreement over the return of ownership of the Shebaa farms back to Lebanon. Politicians see that with such a move, Israel will pressure Lebanon to fulfill UN law 1559 concerning the disarmament of Hezbollah and Palestinian refugees. If this is true, increased controversy is predicted to unveil by sects in Lebanon that see no reason for the existence of the resistance in the south, especially if the land is returned.

[Top]