Hezbollah not defeated, not close to being defeated: Israeli media
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Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth underlines that Hezbollah was not close to being defeated in the north as settlers clamor about losing.
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An Israeli soldier works on loading a tank on a transport truck at an area near the Palestinian-Lebanese border area, as seen from northern occupied Palestine, Thursday, November 28, 2024 (AP)
Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth has described the recent ceasefire agreement with Lebanon as a "broad implementation of Resolution 1701 under US leadership," while acknowledging the challenges faced by the Israeli occupation during the war.
In a report, the newspaper stated that critics of the agreement within Israel overlook fundamental realities, particularly that "Hezbollah was not defeated, nor was it close to being defeated." While the group sustained significant blows, it "continued fighting" throughout the conflict, the report noted.
The article highlighted a prevalent sentiment among Israelis who question why the Israeli occupation's military superiority has not succeeded in creating a new status quo free of threats or in forcing Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and establish a security buffer zone.
"Anyone with a real understanding of Lebanon knows that certain outcomes cannot be achieved through tanks, rockets, or even by destroying infrastructure," the report added.
Former head of Israeli military intelligence, Tamir Hayman, echoed these frustrations, admitting that the Israeli military "failed to achieve any of its objectives in the aggression against Lebanon." Hayman acknowledged that the Israeli occupation forces' goal to ensure the swift and safe return of northern settlers was not realized.
Hayman also praised Hezbollah fighters, stating that their "brave combat against the Israeli military reinforced the principle that equations are dictated on the battlefield alone."
The ceasefire has left many Israeli settlers, particularly in northern settlements, feeling disillusioned. As Lebanese villagers return to their homes, some Israeli settlers argue that the agreement has neither delivered a decisive victory against Hezbollah nor accomplished the goals of the war. These frustrations have fueled calls within the Israeli occupation to break the ceasefire and resume hostilities.
'Settlers afraid, frustrated'
This echoes a similar sentiment made by Israeli media, wherein they said residents in southern Lebanon are returning to their homes following the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation, while fear and frustration are prevalent among settlers in northern border settlements.
Israeli Channel 12 reported a "deep mistrust" between northern settlers and the Israeli occupation forces, noting that "no one has addressed the reality in the north for over a year." The network quoted a resident of Metula, a northern border settlement, who said, "Being neighbors with Lebanon, the Israeli military must do much more to restore our sense of security."
Despite government calls for settlers to return, many express doubts, with Channel 12 adding that "there is no place to return to." The displacement has also disrupted daily life, including education, as families struggle to resume normal routines.
Strategic advisor Eyalet Frisch criticized the mass evacuation of roughly 100,000 northern settlers during the war, describing it as a "strategic mistake" driven by "hysteria over Hezbollah." Former Israeli military spokesperson Avi Benayahu echoed this view, stating that the military was in a state of panic after evacuating from the north.
'1-0 in favor of Hezbollah'
Channel 14 warned that if the government continues its current approach, the north risks becoming a "Lebanon border envelope" similar to the precarious situation faced by communities near Gaza.
