The UNTSO story.

So began the first peacekeeping operation in the history of the United Nations, officially named the United Nations Trace Supervision Organization or UNTSO. The first group of UN military observers arrived between 11 and 14 June 1948, and were deployed in Palestine and some areas of the neighbouring Arab countries. However, 29 May 1948 is considered as the stan of the operation, since on that day the Security Council, in its resolution 50, derided to deploy military observers, with the mandate to assist the UN Mediator in the supervision of the truce between Israel and Arab forces.

After a four-week truce expired, and a large-scale fighting erupted again between Israeli and Arab forces, the Council, in its resolution 54 of 15 July 1948, ordered a ceasefire of indefinite duration. The second group of military observers were deployed to each Arab Army and each Israeli armed group, as well as in Jerusalem, the coast, ports and airports of the trace area. They also accompanied convoys between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

With the conclusion of four General Armistice Agreements between Israel and Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, in 1949, UNTSO's function was extended to assist the parties in supervising the application and observance of those Agreements. UNTSO also became an autonomous operation, officially a subsidiary organ of the Security Council, with the Chief of Staff assuming command.

Fifty years later, UNTSO's 152 military observers, supported by United Nations international and local civilian staff, are still deployed throughout the region and their mandate has not been changed since. They continue to observe and maintain the unconditional ceasefire ordered by the Council, pending the final peace settlement, and to assist the parties, as may be necessary, in the supervision and observance of the terms of the Armistice Agreements. With headquarters in Jerusalem, and offices in Beirut and Damascus, it operates in the areas of Southern Lebanon, the Golan Heights and Sinai.

Methods of Operation

Military observers assigned to the Israel-Syria sector are attached to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) and carry out their tasks under the operational control of the UNDOF commander, but remain under the command of UNTSO's Chief of Staff. Operating out of Tiberias (Israel), Damascus and Camp Faquar (Syria), they continue to man 11 observation posts located near the area of separation on the Golan Heights and in the vicinity of the lines on both sides, and they conduct fortnightly inspections of the areas of limitation in armaments and forces provided for under the disengagement agreement of 1974.

The observers in the Lebanon-Israel sector are assigned to assist the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the fulfilment of its tasks and are placed under the operational control of the commander of UNIFIL, but also remain under the command of UNTSO's Chief of Staff. The Security Council stipulated, however, that the military observers of UNTSO would continue to function on the Armistice Demarcation Line after the termination of the mandate of UNIFIL.

At present, they operate from Naqoura (South Lebanon), maintain five observation posts along the Lebanese side of the Armistice Demarcation Line, conduct patrols and carry out liaison duties with parties active in and around the UNIFIL area of operation.

UNTSO observers in the Egypt-Israel sector are based in Ismailia (Egypt) and conduct patrols along the Suez Canal and throughout the Sinai peninsula except for an area under the independent (non-UN) Multinational Force and Observers (MFO). In addition, UNTSO has been maintaining the machinery for the supervision of the Armistice Agreements in those sectors where no peaceful settlement has been achieved.

The Chief of the UNTSO office in Beirut and Damascus is the nominal Chairman of the Israel-Lebanon and Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commissions, respectively. Although, Israel denounced the Armistice Agreements with Lebanon and Syria after the war of 1967, the United Nations position has been that there is no provision in the Agreements for unilateral termination of their application.

UNTSO's Achievements

The region has experienced a number of wars since 1949 which changed the territorial ceasefire lines. UNTSO has moved with the ceasefire lines and has also adapted to developments in bilateral relations and agreements.

Following the wars of 1956, 1967 and 1973, its functions changed in the light of changing circumstances, but its military observers remained in the area, acting as go-between for the hostile parties and as means by which isolated incidents could be contained and prevented from escalating into major conflicts.

The military observers operated with the consent of the parties and were dependent on the cooperation of the parties for their effectiveness. There is no element of enforcement in their functioning.

From 1949 to 1973

Until 1967, observers continued to conduct patrols along the Armistice Demarcation Lines, and supervised a neutral zone of the Holy City and two demilitarized zones in the El Auja area and near Lake Tiberias (the Ein Gev and Dardara sectors). In the 1950s, a number of observation posts were established along the Israel-Syria demarcation line. UNTSO observers also cooperated closely with the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF I), which was deployed in the Sinai. After the 1967 war, UNTSO observers demarcated the ceasefire lines and established two ceasefire observation operations-in the Israel-Syria sector and in the Suez Canal zone. In 1972, a similar operation was set up in southern Lebanon, but without the specific agreement of Israel. The 1973 war, through which UNTSO continued to function, resulted in a further arrangement, which included the establishment of a new armed United Nations force (UNEF II), tasked to man a buffer zone in the Sinai Desert.

UNTSO's main responsibilities were also related to the work of the Mixed Armistice Commissions (MACs), set up by the Armistice Agreements between Israel and four Arab countries, and chaired by the UNTSO Chief of Staff. Their main task was the investigation and examination (by UNTSO observers) of the claims or complaints presented by the parties relating to the application and observance of the Armistice Agreements.

And at present

UNTSO has played, and continues to play, a very important and positive role in the turbulent Middle East developments, fulfilling its mandate with the highest professionalism, devotion and sometimes ultimate sacrifice. Twenty-seven UNTSO's staff members lost their lives in the line of duty, including Count Bernadotte, who was assassinated in Jerusalem on 17 September 1948.

It is debatable how the situation in the region would have developed without UNTSO's assistance in establishing and maintaining the ceasefire and contribution to the confidence-building between the parties and the creation of a conducive atmosphere for the peace talks. But its mandate is linked to the accomplishment of a final peaceful settlement. Peace agreements have been concluded between Israel and Egypt, and Israel and Jordan, and peace talks on all other tracks were launched in the beginning of 1990s with high hopes and expectations.

Unfortunately, the process initiated at the Madrid Conference is stalled, Israeli-Palestinian negotiations have been dead-locked for well over a year, and talks between Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon have been frozen since 1996. Regional economic cooperation faces enormous difficulties. This makes UNTSO's role and activities ever more important in preserving the ceasefire. While these will continue, it is up to the parties to overcome current difficulties and pursue the path of peace based on the principle of "land for peace", decisions of the Madrid Conference, the Oslo accords and relevant United Nations resolutions. That, of course, would require accommodation and flexibility on all sides.