Relationship dossier
Israel
Lebanon
Relationship assessment
A longstanding conflict marked by repeated wars, an unresolved state of hostility, and limited ceasefire arrangements.
Israel toward Lebanon
-85Israel has invaded Lebanon and conducted repeated military operations there, including the 1982 invasion and the 2006 war. These actions, alongside continued border conflict, have kept relations adversarial despite ceasefire arrangements.
Lebanon toward Israel
-45Lebanon entered the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and has maintained a state of hostility with Israel, though the two countries signed a 1949 armistice. In 2006, the Lebanese government accepted UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and deployed the Lebanese army in the south as part of the ceasefire framework.
Overall relationship
-80The relationship is defined by unresolved hostility, repeated Israeli military operations in Lebanon, and the absence of a peace treaty. The 1949 armistice and later ceasefire arrangements have constrained conflict at times but have not produced a durable political settlement.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Israel and Lebanon remain in a sustained state of hostility, with no peace treaty and repeated armed conflict. Israel has conducted major military operations in Lebanon, including the 1982 invasion and the 2006 war. Lebanon and Israel signed an armistice in 1949, and Lebanon later accepted UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which provided for a ceasefire and Lebanese army deployment in the south. These limited arrangements have not resolved the conflict.
Areas of tension
- The unresolved state of hostility and absence of a peace treaty
- Cross-border attacks and military operations
- Disputes over border security and the implementation of ceasefire arrangements
- The role of Hezbollah and armed activity in southern Lebanon
Key developments
Israel and Lebanon signed an armistice agreement following the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
Israel invaded Lebanon, beginning a major military operation that led to prolonged Israeli military presence in parts of the country.
The 2006 Israel-Lebanon war ended under a ceasefire framework established by UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which Lebanon accepted.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire intended to end renewed cross-border fighting.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of Lebanese government control over armed activity against Israel is limited by the role of Hezbollah.
- Implementation of ceasefire and security arrangements along the border has varied over time.