Surrounded by threats from north and south Israel must defend itself

Without taking its eyes off Gaza, where Hamas seeks to revive its military and governmental capacities and is engaged in hit-and-run attacks against Israeli forces, Israel’s focus is now on the north, where Hezbollah has forced some 80,000 civilians out of their homes and is systematically destroying towns, villages and farms. Hezbollah shot some 9,000 projectiles into Israel, more than 500 of them in the last two days.

Israel eliminated most of Hezbollah’s high command (seven out of 10), repeatedly demonstrating its deep infiltration of the terror organization’s most guarded secrets, wounding 5,000 of Hezbollah’s operatives (all of whom held command positions, some of whom now fighting for their lives), and killing 19 of its remaining senior officers, Israel is now targeting launchpads as these are readied to be used – again demonstrating Israel awareness of Hezbollah’s every step and its ability to preempt many of its actions.

Hezbollah threatens to reply with force, increased the range of its attacks, hitherto limited to the very north of Israel and now reaching as far as Haifa, and the quality of the munitions it uses. Israel on the other hand has limited its attacks, avoiding action against Hezbollah’s long-range precision missiles. Some might wonder why and the following may not be the answer, but it seems likely that the reason is as follows: Hezbollah is Iran’s primary asset in the Middle East, and the long-range precision missiles of strategic value. Attacking them is tantamount to attacking Iran’s supreme interests and therefore an attack on Iran itself. Israel has no interest at this stage to engage with Iran.

On the other hand, both Iran and Hezbollah have no interest in an all-out war with Israel. Regardless of the pain they would be able to inflict on the Jewish State, their pain would be much the greater. Sinwar does not care what happens to the civilians in Gaza or to its infrastructure; Hezbollah’s and the Iranian Government’s interests are intertwined with the welfare of their respective countries.

In light of these facts, it is possible that Israel’s present firm stance vis-à-vis Hezbollah could lead the latter to withdraw its forces from Israel’s northern border. Time will tell. At any rate, should Hezbollah’s attacks extend further into central Israel, I will make my way there and seek to help the churches and my people to the extent I am able. I already have approval for such a trip from my oversight and am beginning to make arrangements in terms of renting a vehicle, borrowing a cell phone and finding accommodation. Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq have joined the fray, firing rockets at Israel, all of which are destroyed before reaching Israel’s borders.

The US Administration is pressuring Israel to avoid escalation so as not to disaffect Ms. Harris’s chances of election, but Israel cannot bow to such cynical expectations – it has its own interests, and these primarily have to do with the protection of its people. Hezbollah attacked Israel, as did Hamas, without provocation. Israel must defend itself.