Lebanon's Christian Villages Fear Isolation as UN Peacekeepers Face Exit

Residents of Christian villages in southern Lebanon, particularly Rmeish, are expressing deep anxiety about their future as the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate is set to expire at the end of the year. UNIFIL has been instrumental in facilitating the delivery of essential goods, including food and fuel, to these isolated communities, which are located within an Israeli-declared "security zone." With UNIFIL's potential withdrawal, villagers fear being cut off from the rest of Lebanon, facing shortages and potential abandonment.

UNIFIL, established in 1978, has played a crucial role in monitoring the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, ensuring humanitarian aid access, and helping to demarcate the Blue Line border. The force, comprising over 7,500 peacekeepers from around 50 nations, has become a familiar presence, with many of its bases located within Israeli-occupied territory. The impending departure of UNIFIL raises concerns about the fate of vital documentation related to the Blue Line and the ability to investigate potential war crimes.

George Ibrahim, a 45-year-old teacher from Rmeish, described the situation as living in a "big, isolated prison" and questioned how goods would reach the town without UNIFIL's escort through numerous Israeli checkpoints. Local businesses are already experiencing dwindling supplies, with fresh produce and fuel becoming scarce. The cancellation of aid convoys, even those intended to be accompanied by international press, has heightened these fears.

Efforts are underway to extend UNIFIL's mandate, with two-thirds of the Lebanese parliament signing a petition and the Lebanese President supporting an extension. However, diplomatic sources consider an extension unlikely. The UN Security Council has yet to act on proposals for a continued UN military presence. Israel, which welcomed a previous decision to renew UNIFIL's mandate for a final time, cited UNIFIL's failure to prevent Hezbollah's military buildup as a reason for its eventual withdrawal.

The potential withdrawal also leaves Lebanese contractors who provide services to UNIFIL bases facing unemployment and homelessness. The Catholic priest of Rmeish, Najib Al-Amil, expressed fears that residents might be perceived as "collaborators" by the rest of Lebanon and questioned their future status, wondering if they would remain under Israeli control or be integrated with Lebanon.