Israel’s Decision to Escalate: From Near-Crisis to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon War

• In Event: Crisis Escalation and Prevention

Abstract

In 2006, Hezbollah, a violent non-state actor (VNSA), crossed the blue line into Israel, and kidnapped and killed Israeli soldiers. Israel responded by sending troops across the border, striking Hizbollah’s medium and long-range missiles, and bombing Hezbollah’s infrastructure in Beirut and the Beqaa Valley. This event escalated from a near-crisis to a crisis and to a war. This paper will examine why Israel responded by sending troops across the border (about 1-2 km) but rejected mobilizing its reserve forces (until the third week) and rejected engaging in a large ground offensive. Finally, it will discuss why Israel signed the UNSCR 1701, de-escalating the crisis.

Author

• Steven E. Lobell, University of Utah