Should Israel make a deal with Hezbollah? - November 18 IDSF Daily Briefing

Summary

Brigadier General Amir Aivi, founder and chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF), provides an insightful briefing on the ongoing war in Israel, focusing on military strategies and key challenges. He discusses Israel's approach to dismantling Hamas and Hezbollah, the importance of decisively winning the war, and the role of intelligence in operations. He also addresses the broader geopolitical implications, including the threat from Iran and the potential for long-term military presence in Lebanon. The conversation underscores Israel's commitment to eradicating terror groups and securing peace for future generations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Israel's main goal is to ensure no terror armies remain on its borders, specifically Hezbollah in Lebanon, and to prevent their rebuilding efforts.
• 😀 Israel is intensifying airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, targeting weapons depots, launching sites, and leaders to degrade their capabilities.
• 😀 The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are focused on dismantling Hamas in Gaza, with the aim of eradicating the group as a military and governmental entity.
• 😀 Israel is not seeking to conquer Lebanon, but wants to ensure Hezbollah is dismantled and cannot rebuild its forces in the future.
• 😀 A decisive win is necessary for Israel, meaning a complete defeat of Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, with no chance of them rebuilding their military capabilities.
• 😀 The IDF is working to create a long-term security situation where Hezbollah cannot re-arm or re-establish itself, similar to Israel's operations in Syria against Iranian forces.
• 😀 There is no immediate ceasefire in sight, as Israel believes that any agreement without the dismantling of Hezbollah would only allow them to rebuild over time.
• 😀 The international community, particularly the European Union, plays a role in addressing the situation in Lebanon, with Israel seeking support for its position on Hezbollah.
• 😀 Israel's military strategy includes targeting key leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, with the IDF working to degrade their leadership and operational structures continuously.
• 😀 The Iranian regime is considered the 'head of the snake,' with Israel emphasizing the need to dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities and support for proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas to end the broader regional threat.

Q & A

What is Israel's ultimate goal in its current military operations in Lebanon and Gaza?

Israel aims to eradicate terror groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, ensuring they cannot rebuild or rearm along Israel's borders. This includes dismantling their military capabilities and preventing any future threats from these groups.

Why is Israel focused on dismantling Hezbollah and not just containing them?

Israel believes that any deal that allows Hezbollah to remain in South Lebanon, like the 1701 resolution, is ineffective. It aims to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military capabilities, which could lead to future conflicts. The ultimate goal is to dismantle them completely.

What is the significance of Resolution 1559, and why is it preferred over 1701 for Lebanon?

Resolution 1559 calls for the dismantling of all militias in Lebanon, including Hezbollah. Israel believes this is the only effective way to ensure Hezbollah cannot rearm, unlike 1701, which fails to address the rebuilding of military capabilities in the region.

How does Israel view the ongoing situation in Gaza and its operations against Hamas?

Israel's operations in Gaza are focused on dismantling Hamas as a military and governmental entity. The goal is to prevent Hamas from rebuilding and to ensure the return of all hostages, while securing Gaza from future terrorist activities.

What is the meaning of a 'decisive win' in the context of the Israeli military strategy?

A 'decisive win' means completely dismantling Hamas and Hezbollah as effective military and governmental forces, preventing them from rebuilding, and ensuring Israel's long-term security. This also involves securing the return of all hostages.

Why does Israel consider Iran to be the 'head of the snake' in its regional security strategy?

Iran is seen as the primary supporter and instigator of terror groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. By dismantling these proxy forces, Israel believes it can weaken Iran’s influence in the region and prevent further destabilization.

What role does Israel's Air Force play in the ongoing military operations?

The Israeli Air Force is crucial in degrading Hezbollah’s capabilities in Lebanon and Hamas’ infrastructure in Gaza. It targets storage sites, missile launchers, and leadership, ensuring that these groups cannot rebuild their military power.

What is the importance of maintaining Israeli military presence in Southern Lebanon?

Israel plans to maintain control over a 'dead zone' near its border to prevent Hezbollah from using these areas for military purposes. This presence is seen as necessary to ensure Israel's security and prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its infrastructure.

What is Israel's position on the possibility of a deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon?

Israel is not interested in any deal that would allow Hezbollah to remain a military force in Lebanon. The priority is dismantling Hezbollah and ensuring that Israel has the freedom to operate in the region to prevent rearmament.

Why does the Israeli military believe patience is necessary in its fight against Hezbollah and Hamas?

Patience is necessary because the process of dismantling these groups is complex and gradual. While both Hezbollah and Hamas are being degraded, their ability to fully rebuild or continue operations is limited, but it will take time to ensure complete destruction of their military capacities.