The Lebanon War

It seems that Israelis in high positions, political and military, often criticize Israel’s government and military for their actions—or lack thereof. The latest criticism concerns the “failure” of Israel to continue the Lebanon war until Hezbollah was defeated. However, this perspective is misguided for several key reasons:

First, and perhaps most important, continuing the war would have risked more casualties among our young soldiers, many of whom are reservists. Second, since conquering Lebanon was never a feasible objective, persisting in the conflict would have been futile. Third, ending the war allowed over 50,000 Israelis to return home to the north, restoring a semblance of normalcy. Additionally, withdrawing some brigades enabled redeployment to Gaza, increasing pressure on Hamas to release Israeli hostages.

Another crucial factor was the psychological toll of the conflict. Watching constant rocket warnings on TV from cities like Haifa and the Kiryot was deeply distressing. The ceasefire brought a sense of relative calm and much-needed relief to all Israelis after weeks of anxiety. Moreover, the weakening of Hezbollah by the IDF may have indirectly contributed to the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, as Hezbollah’s ability to support Assad was severely limited.

Finally, the prolonged war caused immense fatigue across the nation. The daily losses, widespread displacement, and relentless uncertainty left emotional scars on countless Israelis. Ending the war in Lebanon allowed the country to shift its focus toward resolving conflicts in the south, with the hope of bringing more soldiers back home and restoring peace in the region.