Israel Needs New Rules of Engagement With Regard to Hezbollah
On Wednesday, armed elements belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization crossed into Israel, seized two soldiers from Israel, and then disappeared back over the Israel-Lebanon border with their hostages. Immediately afterward, Hezbollah demanded that Israel release Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the abducted soldiers. Hezbollah’s crossing Israel’s border was a naked act of aggression and its seeking to use the hostages for political extortion constitutes a war crime according to the Laws of War. Appeals based on International Law, however, are not a remedy for this problem and the continuing threat Hezbollah poses. Israel needs to develop new rules of engagement to secure its borders and deter aggression by Hezbollah.
The problem at hand is highly complex. In addition to Hezbollah, it involves a number of governments. Iran and Syria remain active state sponsors and hosts of terrorist organizations. Lebanon is a host of the Hezbollah terrorist organization and its Government permits the Hezbollah terrorist organization to hold seats and offices.
Hezbollah is a largely Shia-comprised terrorist entity that was established in the 1980s with Iranian financing. Hezbollah has successfully penetrated Lebanese society and politics by gaining seats in Lebanon’s Government, providing social services and health care, and by running a television network over which it has disseminated its positions. As a result, Hezbollah has increased its capacity to survive in Lebanon. With its standing secure, Hezbollah has been able to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel with complete impunity in Lebanon.
At the same time, Syria and Iran continue to provide arms and money to Hezbollah. For Syria, Hezbollah serves as a critical proxy through which it can extend its geopolitical reach. The BBC explained, “The movement has lcd телевизоры Nuu Tech long operated with neighboring Syria’s blessing, protecting Damascus’ interests in Lebanon and serving as a card for Damascus to play in its own confrontation with Israel…”
Whether or not Syria or Iran played an indirect role in the сабвуферы автомобильные JVC most recent act of aggression launched by Hezbollah remains to be seen. Certainly, Hezbollah could have been attempting to open a “new front” against Israel to complicate its operations in the Gaza Strip. At the same time, Syria could have had motivation to “punish” Israel for the recent Israeli Air
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