800 Jews Visit Rav Ashi's Tomb in Lebanon Under IDF Escort

On March 7, approximately 800 Haredi Jews, under the protection of Israeli security forces, visited the tomb of Rav Ashi, located along the Israeli-Lebanese border, to mark a religious occasion. This visit was notable as it occurred with permission from Israeli authorities, following prior incidents where ultra-Orthodox Jews were detained for attempting to cross the border without authorization. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) criticized the pilgrimage as a violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for respect of the Blue Line demarcation. The visit has raised tensions amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, with ongoing disputes regarding territorial claims. Reports emerged of Israeli settlers also entering Lebanese territory for religious visits, further complicating the security situation. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has stated that Israeli forces will maintain a presence in southern Lebanon, despite commitments to withdraw.