Number: RL31078
Title: The Shib'a Farms Dispute and its Implications
Authors: Alfred B. Prados, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division 
Abstract: Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon on May 24, 2000 left several small but sensitive territorial issues unresolved. The principal example is a roughly 25 square kilometer enclave called the Shib'a Farms, which lies at the southern edge of the Lebanese-Syrian border. This report discusses the origins of the Shib'a Farms dispute, current issues in the debate concerning sovereignty over this area, and implications of the dispute for regional stability.
Pages: 15
Date: Updated August 7, 2001