For nearly two decades, Hezbollah has successfully managed to embed itself deeply within Lebanese politics, institutions and society. Hezbollah now even “has de facto control over the military intelligence through Shia officers serving there“ and has “infiltrated the state security apparatus in the name of cooperation and fairness.” It has become to Lebanon what the IRGC has become to Iran, and the days where Lebanon could hide behind an imaginary line separating the state from the snake may soon be coming to an end …
Jeremiah 22:23, “You residents of Lebanon, nestled among the cedars, how you will groan when pains come on you, agony like a woman in labor …”
The Times of Israel – “Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Tuesday that if the recently implemented ceasefire with Hezbollah collapses, the state of Lebanon will no longer be exempt from blame for attacks, and Israel’s military responses will not distinguish between the terror group and the country where it is based.
Katz’s remarks came a day after the ceasefire, reached last week after 14 months of conflict initiated by Hezbollah, was rattled by a Hezbollah mortar attack on Israeli territory and retaliatory IDF strikes on southern Lebanon…
‘We will work with all our might to enforce all the understandings of the ceasefire agreement, and we show maximum response and zero tolerance,’ Katz said during a visit to the northern border areas whose 60,000 residents were evacuated last October when Hezbollah began cross-border fire in support of Hamas amid the Palestinian terror group’s war with Israel.
‘Yesterday was the first test, [Hezbollah] shooting at Mount Dov. We reacted strongly and this is exactly what we will do, and we will not allow Hezbollah to return to the old methods they had, such as the tent that was set up and not attacked,’ he said, referring to a Hezbollah structure that was placed along the so-called Blue Line that demarcates between the Israel and Lebanon.
Katz said that Lebanon must ‘authorize the Lebanese army to enforce their part, to keep Hezbollah away beyond the Litani [River] and to dismantle all the infrastructure.’
‘If they don’t do it and this whole agreement collapses, then the reality will be very clear. First of all, if we return to war we will act strongly, we will go deeper, and the most important thing they need to know is that there will be no longer be immunity for the state of Lebanon,’ he continued.” Read more.
Psalm 29:5, “The voice of Yahweh breaks the cedars; Indeed, Yahweh breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.”
Isaiah 10:34, “He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, And Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.”
How Hezbollah Holds Sway Over The Lebanese State And Its Institutions – “Lebanon’s political system enables Hezbollah and other actors to exercise power without responsibility… Hezbollah is not regarded as an auxiliary military force: the Lebanese constitution does not make provision for such forces. Instead, since 2008, various ministerial statements have enshrined Hezbollah’s status as the only legitimately armed entity other than the Lebanese Armed Forces… the ministerial statements have given Hezbollah a free pass to use force at its own discretion under the pretext of national security… Hezbollah forced a military takeover of Beirut [in 2008], leading to a government crisis that was resolved with the formation of a new national unity administration in which Hezbollah and its allies had veto rights for the first time… Hezbollah’s use of weapons to intimidate its opponents paved the way for it to entrench – by force – its special status within the Lebanese state and thus increase its political influence. Since 2008, Hezbollah has regularly invoked the ‘army, people, resistance’ formula to justify its actions… Today, Hezbollah is the dominant force in Lebanese politics.” Read more
