Ultra-Orthodox Israelis on the Lebanese side of the border, near Houla, on March 7, 2025. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — A group of ultra-Orthodox Israelis entered southern Lebanese territory near Houla, in the Marjayoun district, on Friday morning for a "religious visit" organized by the Israeli army, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported. The site is believed to be the tomb of Babylonian rabbi Rav Ashi, located inside Lebanese territory, near the Israeli locality of Manara.
According to The Times of Israel, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jewish pilgrims visited the site, escorted by the Israeli army. Images published by Israeli military radio GLZ showed the visitors praying near the location, which is adjacent to a concrete border wall built by the army. The outlet reported that similar visits, coordinated by the Israeli army, had taken place in the past.
The site is located along the Blue Line, within a militarized zone between an Israeli army post and a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) base, The Times of Israel reported. It lies opposite the Lebanese village of Houla.
'Violation of Resolution 1701'
On Thursday, Israeli media outlet i24News reported that the Israeli army planned to allow 250 ultra-Orthodox Jews to enter the site at night under military escort. The report described the visit as an "exceptional authorization" granted for March 7, the date in Jewish tradition marking both the birth and death of the prophet Moses, a day when ultra-Orthodox Jews visit several holy sites.
Contacted by L'Orient Today, UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Adriel stated that "any unauthorized crossing of the Blue line is a violation of [U.N. Security Council] Resolution 1701."
"UNIFIL [U.N. Interim Forces in Lebanon] urges all actors to avoid any action that could upset the current delicate stability. We continue to urge Israeli forces to withdraw from all parts of Lebanese territory, and we continue to support the Lebanese Army in their deployment in the south."
Not an isolated incident
Crossing the Lebanese border without authorization is punishable by up to four years in prison under Israeli law.
In February, four ultra-Orthodox Israelis, who were seeking to visit Ashi's tomb, were arrested by the Israeli army after illegally crossing the border into Lebanon. They allegedly threw stones at approaching army soldiers. Earlier in February, at least 20 ultra-Orthodox Israelis illegally entered Lebanon before being arrested by Israeli army soldiers, for a similar reason according to Yedioth Ahronoth. And on Dec. 5, several families from the South Lebanon Settler Movement arrived at the border and crossed the Blue Line by several meters. An account on X named Trusted Sources shared images purportedly showing settlers setting up tents in Maroun al-Ras (Bint Jbeil district), in southern Lebanon. The settlers carried flags reading "Lebanon
The latest incident comes in the context of an incomplete, fragile cease-fire agreement, which took effect on Nov. 27, 2024. The cease-fire aimed to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that had escalated since Oct. 8, 2023, and intensified in September. The deal outlined an Israeli withdrawal within 60 days — later extended to 83 days in February — followed by the deployment of the Lebanese Army, the demarcation of the land border between Israel and Lebanon and the full implementation of Resolution 1701. However, Israel maintained its occupation of five locations in southern Lebanon and extended it to include two more, and it continues to conduct near-daily strikes and violate Lebanese land, sea and air sovereignty.