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UNTSO UNITED NATIONS TRUCE SUPERVISION ORGANISATION 60th ANNIVERSARY 60 YEARS
UNTSO
UNITED NATIONS TRUCE SUPERVISION ORGANISATION 60th ANNIVERSARY
60 YEARS
Editorial
UNTSO HQPO Box 490
Jerusalem 91004 Tel: +972 02-5687222
Management Board
Chairman:Colonel D.J. Gould, Deputy Chief of Staff
Senior Editor:Mr. F. Manca, Senior Advisor
Editor:Captain H.M.S. Gjedde, UNTSO Reporting Office
Notes: The Editor would like to call your attention to the backdrops to the pages in the body of this publica-tion. They are taken from the UNTSO Historical Map Collection.
Introduction by Chief of Staff and Head of Mission Major General Ian Gordon, AO
For 60 years, peacekeepers have served the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) with commitment and dedication. Many have died in the Service of Peace.
I am grateful for the efforts of UNTSO’s Senior Adviser, Mr Francesco Manca, and Military Observer Captain Hannah Gjedde, who produced this 60th Anniversary Edition of the UNTSO Magazine.
I am proud to serve with UNTSO, following the thousands who have gone before. This Magazine reflects their work.
Cover picture front - A United Nation Truce Supervisory Organization Military Observer at work in the UNTSO Mission Area.
Cover picture inside - Government House, UNTSO HQ, Jerusalem
Cover picture back - An UNTSO Observer performing duties in the Golan, 2008.
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UNTSO personnel on the Beach in Gaza.
The Palestine Post, 1948
The Creation of UNTSO In November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a plan for the partition of Palestine, providing for the creation of an Arab State and a Jewish State, with Jerusalem to be placed under international status. The plan was not accepted by the Arab States or the Pales-tinian Arabs. On 14 May 1948, the United Kingdom relinquished its mandate over Palestine and the State of Israel was proclaimed. On the following day the Palestinian Arabs, assisted by Arab States, opened hostilities against Israel. UNTSO was established under UN Security Council Resolution 50 of 29 May 1948 during the Arab-Israeli War of 1948, which called for the cessation of hostilities in Palestine and for the truce to be supervised by a United Nations Mediator with the assistance of military ob-servers. The Truce went into effect on 11 June, and a group of around 70 military observers and 50 guards were sent to the area to assist the Mediator, Count Bernadotte of Sweden. An extension to this truce was not agreed by the parties, and fighting again broke out. On 15 July 1948 the Security Council ordered the governments and authorities concerned to desist from further military action and to issue cease fire orders. However the ensuing month did not bring a peaceful solution any nearer and on 17 September 1948 the mediator was assassi-nated at the hands of Israeli extremists.
The UN Partition Plan 1949 ———————————-
4 UNTSO News Magazine
The tent where the Israeli -Syrian armistice agreement was signed, near Mahanayim in
the Hula Valley, northern Israel.
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan-Israel Mixed Armistice Commission meeting at
Mixed Armistice Commission House, Jerusalem.
UNTSO 1949 to 1967
In early 1949, four General Armistice Agreements were signed between Israel and its Arab neighbours. UNTSO’s main responsibility now was to assist the parties in supervising the application and observance of the General Armistice Agreements. The General Armistice Agreements were to be admin-istered by four Mixed Armistice Commissions under the chairmanship of the Chief of Staff UNTSO and were comprised of equal number of delegates from Is-rael and the Arab states concerned.
An UNTSO map dated 3 August, 1948 showing UNTSO assisting a camel exchange a draft proposal for the establishment of a No
across the armistice line. Man’s Land separating Syrian and Israeli forces in the Hula Valley, north of Lake Tiberias
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Land ownership map around Government House, Jerusalem, 15 May 1948
The Jordan-Israel Sector
The Jordan-Israel Armistice Agreement was subject to many pressures, and the Mixed Armistice Commission functioned with difficulty. The West Bank and the Old City of Jerusalem were of special importance. They contained large numbers of Israelis and Palestinian Ar-abs, and both had ties and claims to the land. Because of the conflicts that took place, especially around Jeru-salem, a partition was established. A “neutral zone” was proposed, marked by a “Green Line” and a “Red Line” and with Government House located near the south end of the neutral zone.
The signed Armistice Agreement between Jordan and Israel, 1949
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The Boundary Line between Syria and Palestine, 1923. The UN Blue Line follows the general course of the 1923 Boundary Line
The Lebanon-Israel Sector
The Israel-Lebanon Mixed Armistice Commis-sions, ILMAC, functioned relatively smoothly from 1949 until 1967. During the June 1967 war,no fighting took place between Israel and Leba-non and the Armistice Demarcation Line re-mained intact. However, the massive influx ofPalestinian refugees from that war would evolveover the next few years into several armed resis-tance groups. By 1978 tensions around the Ar-mistice Demarcation Line led to armed conflict, followed by the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
UNTSO Patrol in Lebanon circa 1958
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UNMOs at work in the Syria-Israel Sector.
The Syria-Israel Sector
Syria-Israel relations were strained from 1948 to 1967, and as a consequence the Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission (ISMAC) functioned with great difficulty. By October 1966, there were more than 30,500 Is-raeli and 36,000 Syrian complaints pending before the commission. In order to ease the tensions, UNTSO established a number of permanent Observation Posts along the Armistice Demarcation Line in the 1950s Boundary Line between then defined (See page 11). Syria and Palestine, 1923
UNMOs checking the position of a marker.
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The Egypt-Israel Sector
Relations between Egypt and Israel were complex to adminis-ter and the Egypt-Israel Mixed Armistice Commission, EIMAC, functioned with difficulty. After the 1956 war a new UN mission, the UN Emergency Force (UNEF), was de-ployed along the Egypt-Israel cease-fire line in the Sinai. UNTSO observers helped establish and then participated in UNEF I operations. In 1967, UNEF was withdrawn at the re-quest of the Egyptian Government.
All photographs are UNTSO personnel on patrol in the Sinai.
UNTSO Observation Posts
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UNTSO Observer UNTSO Observer Observation Post (OP) Lab, Lebanon
Observer Group Lebanon (OGL)
OGL was established after the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and the deployment of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) in 1978. Earlier ILMAC, the Israel-Lebanon Mixed Armistice Commis-sion, had established six UNTSO Observation Posts (Lab, Hin, Ras, Mar and Khiam) in South Lebanon in 1972, to strengthen the UN presence along the Armistice Demarcation Line. UNTSO’s Naqoura Outstation in South Lebanon had been cre-ated prior to the 1967 war and it became the site of the Head-quarters for both OGL and UNIFIL.
UNTSO Observers
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Observation Post (OP) Yoke, Golan Heights, 1969
Observer Group Golan (OGG) Tiberius and Damascus Outstations
The decision to create permanent UNTSO Observation Posts along the Armistice Line of Demarcation in the vicinity of Lake Tiberias and the Hula Valley of the Syria-Israeli sector was adopted as early as 1956. Following the 1967 war, the Observation Posts were moved to the top of the Golan, with six posts on each side of the buffer zone. OGG Tiberias and Damascus were created with the deployment the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) to the Golan after the 1973 war, which also resulted in a relocation of the buffer zone which became the present Area of Separation.
UNTSO Observation Posts on the Golan , between 1967 and 1974.
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UNTSO Observation Posts along the Armistice Demarcation Line in the Lake Tiberias and Hula Valley areas, between 1956 and 1967
Kantara Control Center, Egypt, 1971 (See the map on page 9)
Observer Group Egypt (OGE)
OGE was established in April 1980 as a successor to Observer Group Sinai (OGS). OGS originated from the Ismailiya Control Center (ICC) and Kan-tara Control Center (KCC), which were formed after the 1967 war. After the Peace Agreement between Egypt and Israel in 1979 the mission of OGS was reduced. OGE currently has its base at Ismailiya. It has recently been
OP near Suez, Egypt re-named the UNTSO Liaison Office to Cairo.
UNTSO Patrol
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UNTSO Headquarters
When UNTSO was established in 1948, its first HQ was located in Cairo, and then Haifa. In mid 1949, HQ UNTSO formally occupied Government House in Jerusalem. Except for a period during the 1967 war, Government House has been continuously oc-cupied by the United Nations and specifically HQ UNTSO since 1949. The June 1967 war was a dramatic milestone in the history of Government House. On 5 June 1967, a company of Jordanian troops occupied the Government House gardens area. Shortly af-terwards, the Jordanians were attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and were subsequently driven from the premises. The IDF captured Government House and UNTSO personnel were evacuated. UNTSO established a temporary HQ at the Presi-dent Hotel and at a convent in Ein Kerem; and then later at the YMCA hotel in Jerusa-lem. After considerable international pressure HQ UNTSO was allowed to re-occupy Government House on 24 August 1967. At 2:25 pm on that day, the United Nations flag was once again raised on the flag pole atop Government House.
Approaching the east entrance of UNTSO HQ,
Jerusalem UNTSO escorting a convoy to Mount Scopus, Jerusalem
Water transportation to Mount Scopus, Jerusalem
Entering the west gate to UNTSO HQ, Jerusalem
UNTSO Liaison Office Amman, Jordan
Mixed Armistice Commission House, Jerusalem. MAC House now accommodates the Office of the
United Nations Co-ordinator of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
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Observer Detachment Damascus and UNTSO Liaison Office Beirut, Beirut, 1994 Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission, Damascus
Liaison Offices
The UNTSO Liaison Office in Amman, Jordan (UNLOA), was established in 1974 when the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan-Israel Mixed Armi-stice Commission (HKJIMAC) moved from Jerusa-lem to Jordan. It closed following the peace agree-ment between the two countries in 1994.
The Observer Detachment Damascus (ODD) was established following the 1973 war and is now known at the UNTSO Liaison Office Damascus (UNLOD).
The United Nations Liaison Office Beirut (UNLOB) was created in 1992 and replaced Ob-server Group Beirut (OGB). OGB was created in 1982 as a result of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon
Israel-Lebanon Mixed Armistice Commission, and incorporated the original Israel-Lebanon Beirut
Mixed Armistice Agreement, ILMAC.
Liaison Offices (Continued)
The Egypt-Israel Mixed Armi-stice Commission (EIMAC) was originally located in Gaza, but moved to Cairo after the 1967 war.
With the relocation of EIMAC, The Kantara Control Center in Egypt UNTSO established a Liaison The UN’s Gaza Beach Club.
Office in Gaza (UNLOG), which finally closed in 1996.
The UN Liaison Office in Cairo, UNLOC, was created as a result of the 1973 war. The Egypt-Israel Mixed Armistice Commission then became UNLOC.
UNLOC later merged with Ob-server Group Sinai in 1979 and the newly combined outstation was renamed as Observer
The UNTSO Liaison Office Cairo in Cairo Group Egypt (OGE). It has The Egypt-Israel Mixed Armistice Commission, Gaza
since been renamed the UNTSO Liaison Office to Cairo (UNLOC).
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1967 to 1973 The Jordan-Israel Sector
At the end of the 1967 War, Israeli forces occupied the entire West Bank of the Jordan Valley. No cease fire observation was established in this sector.
A panoramic photograph of Jerusalem dated in July 1948. It was taken from a point near the northeast corner of the Old City looking north and east towards Mount Scopus.
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UNTSO Observers at the Naqoura Outstation, southern Lebanon
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The Naqoura Camp, 1980s
1967 to 1973 The Lebanon-Israel Sector
Following the 1967 war, the Palestinian presence in South Lebanon increased markedly with the influx of a sizeable number of displaced persons from the West Bank and Gaza, as well the arrival of Pal-estinian Armed Elements from Jordan in 1970. In early 1972, tensions heightened in Israel as a re-sult of increasing activities by Palestinian fighters based in south Lebanon and reprisal attacks by Is-raeli forces. In the same year, UNTSO established five observation posts on the Lebanese side of the Armistice Demarcation Line and increased the number of military observers in the area, which would eventually become part of Observer Group, Lebanon (see also page 10).
Observation Post (OP) Khiam, Lebanon
OP Mar, Lebanon
OP Ras, Lebanon
Observation Post (OP) Victor, Golan Heights, 1969
UNTSO Observation, Golan Heights
OP Sierra, Golan Heights, 1973
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Quneitra Outstation, Golan, 1971
1967 to 1973 The Syria-Israel Sector
On 10 June 1967, the UNTSO Chief of Staff, on in-structions from the UN Secretary-General, contacted the Israeli and Syrian authorities and proposed the implementation of a cease-fire as demanded by the UN Security Council. UNTSO created a number of observation posts on each side of a buffer zone (See the map page 11). There were initially four Observation Posts on the Is-raeli side and five on the Syrian side. This was later increased to seven Observation Posts on the Israeli side and nine on the Syrian side.
Caravan life OP Victor, Golan Heights, 1973
UNTSO Observation, Golan Heights
Ismailiya Control Center, 1971
1967 to 1973 The Egypt-Israel Sector
The Egypt-Israel sector saw UNTSO play a role in helping to bring the June 1967 war to an end. When the ceasefire went into effect, the Israeli forces had reached the eastern bank of the Suez Canal. In July 1967, after an agreement by both par-ties, UNTSO observation posts were established on both sides of the Suez Canal. The main task of the observers was to observe and report on breaches of the cease fire, including firings, over flights, and movements forward which, in this case, meant the movement of boats and crafts in the Canal. Cease-fire observation along the Suez Canal was stopped soon after the outbreak of the Oc-tober 1973 war.
Map with UNTSO comments, 1971
Egyptian stamp commemorating ——————————- the 1973 War
19 UNTSO News Magazine UNTSO Report, May 1970
UNTSO Observation Posts along the Suez Canal, 1971
Wartime in UNTSO
Patrol Base Khiam, Lebanon, 2006
OP Mike, Egypt, 1973
OP Charlie, Egypt, 1973 OP Mike, Egypt, 1973
UNTSO HQ, Jerusalem, 1967 UNTSO HQ at YMCA, Jerusalem, 1967 OP Silver, Egypt, 8 Sept 1968
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UNTSO Desert patrol UNTSO Workshop, Jerusalem UNTSO vehicle under repair in the UNTSO Communication field
The essence of UNTSO’s work - patrolling, observing, reporting and mission support continue to this day.
UNTSO Work life
UNTSO Communications Room, Jerusalem, 1973 UNTSO personnel supervising shepheards UNTSO Foot patrol
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In Memory
Comdt R. de Labarriere France 03 July 1948 FSO O. H. Bakke Norway 13 July 1948 LtCol J. Queru France 28 August 1948 Capt P. Jeannel France 28 August
1948
Count F. Bernadotte Sweden 17 September 1948 LtCol A. Serot France 17 September 1948 Sgt L. Welling
USA
07 December 1948 Cpl C. F. Smith
USA
07 December 1948 Maj R. A. Lepesqueur
USA
29 December 1950 UNTSO personnel who have FSO S. A. Rasmussen Denmark 28 July 1956 died in the service of peace LtCol G. Flint
Canada
26 May
1958
Capt E. Sparre Sweden 15 January
1967
Comdt T. Wickham Ireland 07 June
1967
L/S S. Gideon Jordan 07 June
1967
Maj B. R. Plane Sweden 27 July 1969 L/S S. M. Asuba Egypt 15 April 1970 LtCol J. E. A. Bogvad Sweden 16 July 1970 Capt G. Banse France 06 October
1973
Capt G. R. Olivieri Italy 06 October
1973
Capt D. B. Tjorswaag Norway 09 October
1973
Maj G. H. Dogniaux France 11 May
1982
Comdt M. Nestor Ireland 25 September 1982 Maj R. Carlson
USA
25 September 1982 Maj H. S. Warren USA 25 September 1982 Capt K. Lasonen
Finland
25 September 1982 Capt
P
. McCarthy Australia 12 January 1988 Col W. R. Higgins
USA
06 July 1990 Maj J. L. Valet France 09 January
2005
Maj H. P. Lang
Austria
25 July 2006 Maj P. Hess-von Kruedener Canada 25 July 2006 Maj Z. Y. Du
China
25 July 2006 Lt(N) J. Makinen
Finland
25 July 2006
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UNTSO Chiefs of Staff
Col Count Thord Bonde Maj Gen Aage LundstromLt Gen William E. Riley Maj Gen Vagh Bennike Lt Gen E.L.M. Burns Col Byron V. LaeryLt Gen Carl C. von HornCol R.W. Rickert Lt Gen Carl C. von Horn Lt Gen Odd Bull Lt Gen Ensio Siilasvuo Col Richard Bunworth Maj Gen Bengt Liljestrand Col Keith D. HowardMaj Gen Emmanuel A. Erskine Col William Callaghan Col O. Forsgren Maj Gen Erkki R. Kaira Lt Gen Emmanuel A.Erskine Lt Gen William Callaghan Lt Gen Martin O. VadsetMaj Gen Hans Christensen Maj Gen Krisna Thapa Col John Fisher Col Luc BujoldCol Jaakko Oksanen Maj Gen Rufus Kupolati Maj Gen Tim FordMaj Gen Franco Ganguzza Maj Gen Carl DoddMaj Gen Clive Lilley Maj Gen Ian Gordon
Sweden Sweden
USA
Denmark
Canada
USA Sweden
USA
Sweden Norway
Finland Ireland
Sweden Australia
Ghana Ireland
Sweden
Finland Ghana
Ireland Norway
Finland Nepal
New Zealand Canada
Finland
Nigeria
Australia
Italy Ireland
New Zealand
Australia
May 1948 July 1948
September 1948 June 1953 August 1954
November 1956 March 1958
July 1960 January 1961
June 1963 August 1970 November 1973 April 1974 September 1975
January 1976 April 1978 June 1979 February 1980 February 1981 May 1986 June 1987 October 1990 October 1992
December 1993 April 1994 June 1995 October 1995 April 1998
April 2000 March 2002
November 2004 November 2006
July 1948 September 1948
June 1953 September 1954 November 1956
March 1958 July 1960 December 1960
May 1963 July 1970 October 1973
March 1974 August 1975
December 1975 March 1978
June 1979 January 1980
February 1981 May 1986
June 1987 October 1990
October 1992 December 1993 April 1994
June 1995 September 1995
March 1998 March 2000 March 2002 Sepyember 2004
Novovember 2006 Present
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