The United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) is the UN mission formed by Security Council Resolution 50 in 1948 to monitor and observe the cease-fire between Israel and its neighbouring countries.

The Oldest UN Mission

This makes UNTSO the oldest and longest running mission in the history of the UN. In addition, it still has a classic peacekeeping mandate under Chapter VI of the UN Charter. This makes UNTSO an impartial instrument for peaceful dispute settlement, whereby all involved parties agree to its presence in the region and its mission. Regardless of UNTSO’s presence, the border region between Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt has in the past proven far from stable.

Dutch Observers

The Dutch armed forces have consequently contributed to the UNTSO mission since 1956 with an average of ten military Observers. These observation missions last one year on average, whereby the mission environment is deemed permissive. This means that military personnel are allowed more freedom of movement here than for example during missions in Afghanistan or Iraq. The Observers live among the local population and become immersed in the social life and customs of the region.

Situation in Syria

This permissiveness has changed drastically over the past few years. First, there was the military action by Israel in Southern Lebanon in 2006, followed by the civil war in Syria in 2012. The takeover of Southwest Syria by Jabhat al-Nusra has forced the UN to abandon its observation posts on the Syrian side of the demarcation line. In addition, there are increasing tensions within Lebanon due to the influx of an estimated 1,4 million Syrian refugees (Lebanon’s own population stands at 4,4 million).   

Training

From 12 to 16 January the latest batch of Dutch Observers attended a preparatory training at the Clingendael Institute. The Dutch Ministry of Defence has been sending its Observers to Clingendael since 1999 to immerse them in the politics and socio-religious context of the region.

In addition, the organisational structure of the UNTSO mission, which in the field falls under both the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon and UNDOF mission in the Golan Heights, was touched upon. Finally, the Observers learned about the different facets of everyday life in Israel and Lebanon.

Interested?

If you would like to know more about international security in general, the Training Course on International Security could be of interest to you.

Are you or your staff going to be posted abroad to a conflict or post-conflict region, and would you like to have a tailor-made preparatory course? Please contact Ms Goos Hofstee, Training and Research Fellow, Clingendael Academy.