North Israeli settlers return is still out of reach: Military analyst

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen Net
22 Feb 2024 19:05

An Israeli military expert analyzes "Israel's" strategy against Hezbollah and its ramifications on the occupied North.

Fields burn following a hit by a rocket fired from Lebanon near the northern settlement of "Kiryat Shmona", Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021 (AP)

A military affairs analyst, Or Heller, from the Israeli Channel 13, commented on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement, saying the gist is that "we are constantly trying to push Hezbollah's fighters towards the North utilizing surgical tactics, like airstrikes and assassination operations."

He added that "Israel" is taking the military path, while also putting the political one to use. Regarding the situation in the North, he said "It has been four months since the northern population was displaced, and it seems that their return is further away than that of the southern population."

In that regard, Heller asked “What if the current effort does not bring back the population? Will Hezbollah members be removed by surgical means, or will American mediator Hockstein be given additional opportunities?”

A few days ago, Israeli media reported that the situation in northern occupied Palestine has become "unacceptable," with an absolute absence of the "state", i.e., the Israeli regime, all over the north as it is subjected to the immense firepower of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah.

The situation in the northern Israeli settlement of "Margaliot" is "unreasonable", and residents do not have freedom of movement, "Margaliot" settlement council chief Eitan Davidi said on Saturday. "We cannot move. We are hiding behind the walls."

"The state is not present anywhere in the north, and civilians are the ones managing affairs there," he added.

According to Davidi, "Israel is doing everything it can to avoid confrontation with Lebanon and to reach a political settlement."

Hezbollah missile power gives it advantage over 'Israel'

Israeli media considered that the sudden launch of precision missiles by Hezbollah towards sensitive Israeli sites would give Hezbollah a major advantage before the start of the war.

Israeli media also mentioned what the Secretary-General of Hezbollah said in his speech, that the Resistance possesses massive missile power that would allow it to strike Israeli targets from "Kiryat Shmona" all the way to "Eilat".

Meanwhile, the former head of the Israeli Shin Bet, Ilan Lotan, discussed "Israel's" war with Hezbollah and the prospect of settlers' return to the occupied north.

In a talk on Israeli Channel 13, he said “A decision must be taken about our course of action. Will Israel opt for a political settlement?" which he claims Hezbollah would use to mobilize toward the south, adding that he does not see the possibility of settlers returning to the northern settlements before a "large military battle" [against Hezbollah].