Hezbollah Truce Violations

By Walter E. Block

Thank God for the Hezbollah truce violations in Lebanon. Ordinarily, I am not much of a fan of this terrorist organization, but fair is fair: when upon the rare occasion they do something positive, I compliment them upon it.

Yes, I full well acknowledge, superficially this seems like an awful thing to say. First of all, have I now switched my long-standing very pro-Israel stand? How else can I actually praise this terrorist organization of anything?

Secondly, a truce means a cessation of hostility, an end to fighting. War implies the death of innocent people. Therefore a truce, or a pause, or a cease fire, or peace for that matter, would appear to be a good thing; a very good thing. How can I, a peace-loving person, oppose this Hezbollah policy?

But all bets are off in this case. The provisions of this truce are unfair to Israel. Therefore, Hezbollah’s breaking of them, as is its wont, especially in the aftermath of the war in 2006, is to be applauded, not denigrated.

The war in Lebanon began on October 8, 2023, the very day after the despicable incursion into Israel on the part of Hamas. This resulted in the deaths of some 1200 Israeli civilians and the kidnapping of an additional 250. This tragedy befell young people attending a music festival and members of a nearby kibbutz. One day later, Hezbollah launched its nefarious attack in support of its terrorist brothers in arms, Hamas.

This intrusion was in direct contravention of a treaty which ended the war of 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah. Then, the latter was to be confined in Lebanon to an area north of the Litani River in southern Lebanon. This would keep them away from direct contact with the northern border of Israel. The UN and the Lebanese Army were charged with the buffer duty of keeping the two antagonists apart from one another.

 In the event, this is not at all what actually occurred. In a blatant abnegation of this solemn agreement, not only had Hezbollah located itself cheek by jowl with Israel, but they had the effrontery to start launching drones, missiles, bombs, southward, in the direction of the Jewish State.

Whereupon Israel cocked a snook at these fanatics. Thanks to some exploding communications devices, and the power of the IDF, Hezbollah was dealt a serious blow. Many of its leaders were killed, and their followers in disarray. But, happily, not in enough disorder to prevent them from breaking the most recent truce.

What was their punishment for this untoward episode of treaty breaking, which resulted in the deaths and displacement of Jews living in northern Israel? Nothing much, according to this misbegotten truce arrangement. All that was required of Hezbollah is that they slink back, once again, to their rat holes north of this Litani River, free to carry on as before. They could lick their wounds, regroup, select new leaders, and be ready once again to launch themselves against their neighbor to the south. Also specified in this ill-conceived truce agreement is that the IDF would have to give up the hard-won territory it had gained in southern Lebanon, and move back to Israel.

In sharp contrast what should a justified treaty have specified instead?

The enemies of Israel should be taught a severe lesson once and for all. When you invade, bomb, molest of the citizens of this country, not only to do suffer the consequences to your soldiers, and impossible to prevent collateral damage to your civilian population, but you also lose territory.

This is what happened with regard to the Golan Heights, to Judea and Samaria, to East Jerusalem. This is what should have taken place concerning the Sinai Peninsula at the conclusion of Israel’s defensive war with Egypt.

And this is what should now occur with the southern area of Lebanon. Yes, Hezbollah should certainly vacate these premises and move northward, tails between their legs. But the UN and the Lebanese Army have proven incapable of upholding their buffer roles. They should not be allowed to occupy the area south of the Litani River. The IDF should stand pat, right where they are now located in this terrain. They conquered this territory fair and square. To the victor belong the spoils. To be sure this is true only when the vanquisher is the aggrieved party and the vanquished is the aggressor. And this holds true, in spades, in this case.

Yes, a Greater Israel should now and forever include what was Lebanon, south of this river. Maybe that will help convince the enemies of Israel to cease and desist from unwarranted attacks on this much put upon nation. If you don’t want to cede more land, stop attacking Israel. Is that too difficult a lesson to be learned by the enemies of Israel? Hopefully not.