One war of many battles: reframing Israel’s long conflict in Lebanon, 1968–2000

A prevailing viewpoint in Israeli society asserts that the start of the 1982 Lebanon War signalled the beginning of Israel’s involvement in Lebanon. Thus, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon in May 2000 marked the culmination of 18 years of Israeli presence in the Land of the Cedars. However, the roots of the Israeli involvement can be traced back to the aftermath of the Six-Day War, when Palestinian groups initiated terrorist activities from Lebanese soil. This article aims to reframe Israel’s engagement in Lebanon by dividing the period from 1968 to 2000 into six consecutive and interlinked phases. The article offers to conceive this long era as one war of many battles. Unfortunately, this war did not end, and it continues today. The Israeli withdrawal in May 2000 just opened a new battle in this long war.