UN Lebanon coordinator Hennis-Plasschaert visits Israel — presses UNSCR 1701 compliance

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert began an official visit to Israel 'amidst escalating hostilities,' her office announced. Hennis-Plasschaert is meeting with senior Israeli officials to address the 'urgent need for a recommitment to the full implementation' of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. UNSCR 1701 — passed in 2006 after the second Lebanon war — requires that the Lebanese Armed Forces be the sole armed force operating in southern Lebanon, with Hezbollah disarmed. The resolution has never been effectively implemented. With Hezbollah now firing dozens of rockets daily into Israel and the IDF conducting strikes across southern Lebanon, the UNSCR 1701 framework is under complete collapse. Hennis-Plasschaert's visit is largely symbolic given the active conflict, but represents the UN's formal diplomatic position that both parties should return to the resolution's framework.