Wed Sep 25 08:00:59 UTC 2024: ## UN Resolution 1701 Fails to Disarm Hezbollah, Critics Say

**JERUSALEM -** As Israel continues its airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the effectiveness of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, passed in 2006 to prevent further conflict, is facing renewed scrutiny. Experts and former officials argue that the resolution has been largely ineffective in disarming Hezbollah and ensuring peace in the region.

Resolution 1701 aimed to disarm Hezbollah and establish a zone in southern Lebanon controlled by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) with the help of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). However, Hezbollah has significantly expanded its arsenal, now boasting an estimated 150,000 missiles aimed at Israel.

Critics argue that the resolution has been undermined by Hezbollah’s growing influence within the Lebanese government and the failure of UNIFIL to effectively enforce its mandate.

Walid Phares, an expert on Hezbollah, argues that UNSC Resolution 1559, passed in 2004, should be enforced alongside 1701, as it calls for the dismantling of Hezbollah as a militia.

Rich Goldberg, a former member of President Trump’s National Security Council, blames the U.S. for the failure of 1701, stating that the Bush administration “signed off on 1701 with an obvious poison pill” by making UNIFIL dependent on the LAF for action, which never came.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell echoed these sentiments, highlighting the U.N.’s inaction while Hezbollah amassed weapons on the Israeli border.

France, which has a history in Lebanon, has requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting to address the conflict. However, Paris has been hesitant to classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, unlike several other countries.

The U.S. State Department, while acknowledging Hezbollah’s continued destabilization of the region, reiterated the need for full implementation of Resolution 1701, which includes establishing a weapon-free zone in southern Lebanon.

While the U.N. calls for a recommitment to 1701, many experts believe that Israel will need to take the lead in disarming Hezbollah, as UNIFIL and the LAF have proven incapable of doing so.

Read More