The algorithm will move this post if you reply to it and share it. Please ask me anything about it. Most Americans and Europeans are unfamiliar with Israel-Lebanon history - which was peaceful until 1969, with the border quite open. Here are lesser-known points, even for most Israelis: **1.** For 20 years after the 1948 war until 1969, the border was completely quiet. Farmers on both sides worked their lands and built homes right up to the line. There were good neighborly relations: Metula farmers ground wheat in Lebanese villages. As a child in 1968, my grandfather took me by jeep into Lebanon to visit his acquaintances. **2.** In 1970, Yasser Arafat arrived in Lebanon after failing to seize Jordan (“Black September”). That’s when troubles began. He ignited a civil war that destroyed the “Paris of the Middle East” and launched attacks on Israel. **3.** May 22, 1970: Terrorists attacked a school bus at Avivim (right on the border), killing 9 children and 3 adults and wounding 25 children. Dozens more attacks followed yearly, including the Ma’alot school takeover (May 15, 1974): 4 civilians and 25 children killed, 68 wounded. All by Palestinian terrorists. Relations with Shiite and Christian residents of southern Lebanon remained good. **4.** In 1978, after nine years of attacks and shelling, and as a direct result of "coastal road massacre" (35 dead. 9 children) Israel launched "Operation Litani" clearing southern Lebanon to the Litani River. It withdrew after three months under promises of quiet. A UN force, UNIFIL, was created to fight the terrorists. **5.** UNIFIL failed to stop terrorism; shelling of Israeli communities continued. Good relations with Lebanese Christians persisted. Many fled to Israel via the “Good Fence” or “Fatima Gate” crossing during the civil war. **6.** In 1982, Israel launched Operation “Peace for Galilee” to reach terrorist headquarters in Beirut. A peace treaty was signed on May 17, 1983, but it collapsed after the Lebanese president’s assassination and andc Sabra and Shatila massacre (By Christian forces) - Israel withdrew to a security zone; Lebanon’s civil war continued until Hezbollah prevailed (Taif Agreement, 1989). **7.** In 2000, Israel withdrew to the last centimeter of the UN-marked 1949 border — and Hezbollah immediately kidnapped three Israeli soldiers. Amid the Second Intifada (~1,200 killed), Israel did not respond forcefully and even released terrorists for the hostages’ bodies. **2006:** Hezbollah killed four soldiers and kidnapped two. In the Second Lebanon War, dozens of Israeli civilians died from rockets reaching Haifa. The IDF entered Lebanon but withdrew again to the international border. Two factors stirred the pot: **Syria and Iran**. Syria occupied Lebanon (with Iranian involvement) from 1976 until 2005. In 2004, UN Security Council Resolution 1559 demanded: 1. Respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty and the Lebanese government’s exclusive authority. 2. Disarmament of all militias (Hezbollah and Palestinian groups). 3. Withdrawal of all foreign forces. Hezbollah and Iran ignored it; Syria later reduced its presence. After the 2006 war, Resolution 1701 required full implementation of 1559, a strengthened UNIFIL (15,000 troops authorized to use force), and Lebanese army deployment in the south. **Article 12 of Resolution 1701** The UN force “shall take all necessary action to ensure that its area of operations is not used for hostile activities of any kind, and shall use robust means to prevent shelling.” Israel was not required to withdraw until the force deployed. Israel withdrew anyway - yet Hezbollah built a massive arsenal of ~150,000 missiles in tunnels and civilian homes across Shiite areas. .@grok : check my facts. Correct mistakes.