SUMMARY
After 48 years, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon is nearing the end of its mandate. Its planned withdrawal comes at a time when the Israeli military occupies around 6% of Lebanese territory. Special Correspondent Simona Foltyn and videographer Adrian Hartrick gained rare access with the peacekeepers, traveling south of Israel’s "yellow line."
View the transcript of the story.
Short on time? Watch the video and complete the following See, Think, Wonder questions: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
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WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- Where does UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon) operate and what is its purpose?
- What is UNIFIL’s plan for peace in Lebanon as they withdraw?
- How will UNIFIL’s departure affect local communities in Israeli-occupied areas?
- Why does the Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon persist despite the ceasefire?
- What are Israeli forces doing in the occupied regions of southern Lebanon?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
UNIFIL’s force commander describes peacekeeper presence as “essential.” What do you think the future holds for southern Lebanon as power is transitioned to the Lebanese Army?
Media literacy: The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) publicly disagrees with UNIFIL’s classifications of the reported incidents as violations. Do you believe international organizations like the UN can be trusted to report on situations like this free from biases or agendas? Explain.
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
Visit UNICEF’s (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) webpage on Lebanon here and answer the questions below. You may also want to check out the history of UNICEF here.
- What are the three greatest challenges facing children in Lebanon?
- How has the crisis affected education or health care?
- What is UNICEF doing to help?
- Which individual story or statistic affected you most, and why?
Credit: UNICEF was established in 1946 after World War II.
Written by PBS News Hour Classroom's intern Ryan Sowder and News Hour's Victoria Pasquantonio
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