on +5 March < 1984 <. p> On 15 January < 1985 <, Israel adopted a phased withdrawal plan, finally retreating to the Litani River < to form the 4-12 kilometer (2.5-9 mi <) deep Israeli Security Zone < (map at) while using the native South Lebanese Army < militia to help control it.
2. Border clashes, Assassinations (September 2000-July 2006)
In September 2000, Hezbollah forged an electoral coalition with the Amal movement <. The ticket swept all 23 parliamentary seats allotted for south Lebanon in that region's first election since 1972. p> On 7 October < 2000 < three Israeli combat engineering < soldiers were captured within Shebaa Farms < after Hezbollah < guerrillas set off a bomb next to their jeep. The parents of the soldiers later suspected that the hostages were killed after the abduction and accused the United Nations < and UNIFIL < of cooperating with Hezbollah. p> After Hezbollah killed an Israeli soldier in an attack on an armoured bulldozer that had crossed the border to clear bombs on 20 January < 2004 <, Israel bombed two of the group's bases. p> On 29 January < 2004 <, in a German <-mediated prisoner swap, one time Amal < security head Mustafa Dirani <, who had been captured by Israeli commandos in 1994, and 22 other Lebanese detainees, about 400 Palestinians, and 12 Israeli-Arabs were released from Israeli prisons in exchange for Israeli businessman Elchanan Tenenbaum <, who had been kidnapped by Hezbollah in October 2000. The remains of 59 Lebanese militants and civilians and the bodies of the three Israeli soldiers captured on 7 October < 2000 < were also part of the exchange. Hezbollah requested that maps showing Israeli mines in South Lebanon be included in the deal. p> In May 2004, Hezbollah militiamen killed an Israeli soldier along the border within the Israeli held Shebaa Farms. p> Between July and August 2004 there was a period of more intense border conflict. Hezbollah said the clash began when Israeli forces shelled its positions, while Israel said that Hezbollah had started the fighting with a sniper attack on a border outpost.
On 2 September < 2004 < Resolution 1559 < was approved by the United Nations Security council, calling for the disbanding of all Lebanese militia. An armed Hezbollah was seen by the Israeli government as a contravention of the resolution. [55] < The Lebanese government differed from this interpretation. p> Syrian < troops withdrew from Lebanon in April 2005. p> On 26 May < 2006 <, a car bomb killed Palestinian Islamic Jihad < leader Mahmoud Majzoub < and his brother in Sidon <. Prime Minister of Lebanon < Fuad Saniora < called Israel the prime suspect, but Israel denied involvement. On 28 May < 2006 <, rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel. Hours later, Israel responded by bombing suspected militant rocket launch sites and exchanging fire across the border. The United Nations < negotiated a ceasefire the same day. p> On 10 June < 2006 < the Lebanese army arrested members of an alleged Israeli spy ring, including Mahmoud Rafeh <, his wife, and two children. Police discovered bomb-making materials, code machines and other espionage equipment in his home. Rafeh reportedly confessed to the Majzoub killings and to working for Mossad <, and admitted that his cell had assassinated two Hezbollah leaders in 1999 and 2003 and the son o...
