An investigative report published by the Israeli site 'Hamokem Hechi Ham' details the rise of a radical settlement movement known as 'Ouri Tsafon' (Awake, North), which seeks to occupy and settle southern Lebanon up to the Zahrani River.
The author notes that this movement, previously a marginal group, has gained significant political support from within the ruling Likud party, currently managing massive funding campaigns under the guise of 'security necessity', exploiting the tense situation on the northern front to impose a settlement agenda that exceeds international borders and UN Resolution 1701.
Details of the Event
According to the report, the founder of the movement, Professor Amos Azaria from Ariel University, has laid out a settlement roadmap extending to the Zahrani River, which is approximately 46 kilometers from the Israeli-Lebanese border. Azaria's vision relies on what he calls 'forced demographic change', indicating that 'the majority of the population up to the Litani and Zahrani are Shiites', adding that the Israeli army has issued evacuation orders for these villages, viewing this as an opportunity to start discussing the Zahrani as a new border line for Israel.
This rhetoric, the author argues, paves the way for a repeat of the 'Golan Heights' model through the displacement of populations and preventing their return, facilitating the establishment of settlements to solidify 'political facts' on the ground.
Background & Context
Azaria, who spent six months in a settlement outpost called 'Eli Gaza' on the Gaza Strip border, has shifted his activities northward to establish 'Ouri Tsafon'. In December 2024, the movement embarrassed the military establishment when six families managed to breach the border and set up tents in the Lebanese area of 'Maroun al-Ras', despite the evacuation of these families. Zomer described this attempt as a 'test balloon' for the tolerance of both military and political levels regarding the idea of settlement in Lebanon.
Azaria challenged Israeli authorities by stating, 'If we wanted, we could stay there for a long time; let them chase us in the mountains', reflecting the significant challenge posed by this movement.
Impact & Consequences
The movement does not operate in a political vacuum but enjoys support from a parliamentary lobby led by Likud member Ariel Kallner, who emphasized that 'Resolution 1701 is not a defensible border, while the Litani River represents a real security boundary.' Kallner, who has become a prominent face in the movement's conferences, stressed that Israelis 'are not strangers in this land; it is their land', reflecting a shift in the conflict from a border dispute to a battle for 'liberation of land' from a biblical perspective.
This rhetoric complicates any diplomatic efforts to halt fighting, as settlers view any withdrawal as 'a betrayal of historical rights', further complicating the situation in the region.
Regional Significance
Concerns are growing that these settlement activities could escalate tensions in Lebanon, especially amid the deteriorating political and economic conditions in the country. This situation may negatively affect relations between Lebanon and Israel, complicating peace efforts in the region.
In conclusion, this report serves as an indicator of the rising Israeli settlement activities, necessitating greater international attention to monitor these developments and their impact on regional stability.