As Israel's security establishment and much of the Israeli public voice frustration over the ceasefire with Hezbollah announced by US President Donald Trump, a senior Israeli official tells Israel Hayom this is the only way to stop the high-trajectory fire targeting northern Israel.
The senior Israeli official said that contrary to various reports, the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet never instructed the IDFto eliminate Hezbollah's military force. Dismantling Hezbollah is indeed the overall objective, but it was not defined as a goal to be achieved specifically through military means.
Moreover, there is effectively no military way to prevent the terrorist organization from firing missiles and rockets. Targeted killings and other operational plans proposed by the IDF may weaken Hezbollah, however they cannot completely paralyze the its launch capabilities. Achieving such a result militarily would require a far more drastic offensive, one that would demand a massive increase in military manpower that is not realistic.
The IDF is already stretched beyond its limits across a series of additional missions and fronts, with the same reservists being called up again and again. For all these reasons, the ceasefire not only does not contradict Israel's interests, it is aligned with them. The ceasefire and the diplomatic track are the way to restore quiet to northern communities, at a time when Hezbollah has not been completely eliminated but has been significantly weakened.
The senior Israeli official stressed that contrary to the way the situation has been presented, Hezbollah is in a condition that bears no resemblance to its past position, because the IDF has achieved very significant gains against it. In the 50 days of confrontation leading up to the ceasefire, the damage it inflicted on Israeli forces was relatively limited and dramatically lower than during the early phase of the war.
In addition, the IDF has removed the threat of a ground invasion of northern communities from the agenda and maintains security control over the territory up to the Litani River, and even north of it at certain points. Under these conditions as a whole, there is serious doubt as to whether renewed Israeli military action against Hezbollah would produce significant military benefit.
Another consideration in agreeing to the ceasefire is the severe diplomatic and reputational damage caused to Israel during the latest round of fighting. The smashing of a statue of Jesus by several soldiers in southern Lebanon was widely reported around the world and badly damaged Israel's image in many respects. Videos from southern Lebanon, which were barely broadcast in Israel, showing people jumping from buildings after Israeli Air Force strikes, also received broad international attention.
As Israel's image as a warmongering country grew stronger, efforts resumed in the European Union to cancel reciprocal agreements. At the same time, last week 80% of Democratic senators voted in favor of stopping arms sales to Israel. The military benefit is doubtful, while the diplomatic costs are enormous, the senior Israeli official explained. According to the official, Israel must not become addicted to the use of force.
Meanwhile, Israel Hayom has learned that Lebanon asked for the ceasefire with Hezbollah to last one month, but Israel agreed to only three weeks. That is therefore the period announced by President Trump on Thursday.
