United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701

   Unanimously adopted by the United Nations (UN) on 11 August 2006 (and instituted on 14 August), the resolution's immediate impact was to impose a cease-fire in the Second Lebanon War (2006) involving Israel and Hezbollah. From Israel's perspective, the resolution recognized Hezbollah as the aggressor in the war and demanded the immediate cessation by Hezbollah of all attacks against Israel. By contrast, it demanded that Israel cease only "offensive" military operations. It demanded that Hezbollah unconditionally release two abducted Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers. It reaffirmed the need for the Lebanese government to apply sovereign authority over all parts of the country, including the border region with Israel controlled by Hezbollah; that there be no foreign forces in Lebanon without the consent of its government; and that there be no sales or supply of arms and related materiel to Lebanon or Lebanese-based militias except as authorized by the Lebanese government.

   By recognizing the Blue Line (i.e., the international boundary separating Israel and Lebanon), UN Security Council Resolution 1701 was implicitly legitimizing the IDF's May 2000 redeployment to the Blue Line as complete and in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 425 (1978). It established the framework for a stronger, more assertive successor to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon that could support and assist Lebanon's government and army in applying sovereign authority in the south, disarming Hezbollah, and instituting the embargo on future arms transfers from Iran and Syria to Hezbollah.

   See also Arab-Israeli Conflict.