Good Fence
Encyclopedia
The Good Fence is a popular term for Israel
's northern border with Lebanon
during the period following the Lebanese Civil War
and the 1978 South Lebanon conflict during which southern Lebanon
was controlled by the Maronite Christians and the South Lebanon Army
, friendly to Israel.
From the 1948 establishment of the State of Israel until 1970, Israel's border with Lebanon
was quiet to the point that farmers from the Israeli town of Metula
farmed their lands in the Ayoun Valley inside Lebanon. In 1970, after their expulsion from Jordan
during Black September
, the PLO began taking control over southern Lebanon and breaking the tranquility that resided in the area.
The beginning of the Good Fence coincides with the beginning of the civil war in Lebanon in 1976 and Israel support of the Maronites in southern Lebanon in their battle with the PLO. From 1977 Israel allowed the Maronites to find employment in Israel and provided assistance in exporting goods through the Israeli port city of Haifa
.
The main border crossing through which goods and workers crossed was the Fatima Gate
crossing near Metula
. The Good Fence ceased to exist with Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's northern border with Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
during the period following the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
and the 1978 South Lebanon conflict during which southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon is the geographical area of Lebanon comprising the South Governorate and the Nabatiye Governorate. These two entities were divided from the same province in the early 1990s...
was controlled by the Maronite Christians and the South Lebanon Army
South Lebanon Army
The South Lebanon Army , also "South Lebanese Army," was a Lebanese militia during the Lebanese Civil War. After 1979, the militia operated in southern Lebanon under the authority of Saad Haddad's Government of Free Lebanon...
, friendly to Israel.
From the 1948 establishment of the State of Israel until 1970, Israel's border with Lebanon
Blue Line (Lebanon)
The Blue Line is a border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel published by the United Nations on 7 June 2000 for the purposes of determining whether Israel had fully withdrawn from Lebanon...
was quiet to the point that farmers from the Israeli town of Metula
Metula
Metula is a town in the Northern District of Israel. Metula is located between the sites of the Biblical cities of Dan, Abel Bet Maacah, and Ijon, bordering Lebanon.-Early history:...
farmed their lands in the Ayoun Valley inside Lebanon. In 1970, after their expulsion from Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
during Black September
Black September in Jordan
September 1970 is known as the Black September in Arab history and sometimes is referred to as the "era of regrettable events." It was a month when Hashemite King Hussein of Jordan moved to quash the militancy of Palestinian organizations and restore his monarchy's rule over the country. The...
, the PLO began taking control over southern Lebanon and breaking the tranquility that resided in the area.
The beginning of the Good Fence coincides with the beginning of the civil war in Lebanon in 1976 and Israel support of the Maronites in southern Lebanon in their battle with the PLO. From 1977 Israel allowed the Maronites to find employment in Israel and provided assistance in exporting goods through the Israeli port city of Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
.
The main border crossing through which goods and workers crossed was the Fatima Gate
Fatima Gate
Fatima Gate, also known as the Good Fence Crossing, is a former border crossing between Lebanon and Israel. On the Lebanese side, it is close to the village of Kfar Kila and on the Israeli side, it is west of Metula...
crossing near Metula
Metula
Metula is a town in the Northern District of Israel. Metula is located between the sites of the Biblical cities of Dan, Abel Bet Maacah, and Ijon, bordering Lebanon.-Early history:...
. The Good Fence ceased to exist with Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.