In the midst of the escalating debate within Israel about the future of the northern front, voices have risen that believe that mere calm is no longer enough to guarantee stability. In an analysis published by journalist Yair Kraus in the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, he considered that the call for a “return to war” may seem harsh to the residents of northern Israel who have just emerged from shelters after nearly two months of fighting, but the recent experience has reinforced the conviction that security, not temporary calm, is the basic condition for a normal life.
Kraus pointed out that the “calm” phase that lasted 17 years before Hezbollah’s attack during the “Iron Swords” war was no longer a reliable model, considering that the people of the north had become certain that only true security could prevent the recurrence of threats, especially in light of what he described as the danger of “the Ridwan Force.”
He explained that this realization was behind the Israeli army launching Operation “Northern Arrows” to remove Hezbollah from the border and disarm it, but the war stopped in November 2024 before achieving its goals, under pressure from the administration of then US President Joe Biden and the UN Security Council. He added that the round of fighting that was renewed later, after Donald Trump returned to the White House and Hezbollah joined the war against Iran, also ended without bringing about a radical change in the security situation.
He pointed out that the residents of the north were not surprised by the ceasefire violations, considering that the party took advantage of the truce to reorganize its ranks. He also pointed out the growing crisis of trust with the military establishment, in light of controversy over statements related to “false interceptions,” before later admitting that new shooting had occurred.
He stressed that Hezbollah’s presence in southern Lebanon represents, in his opinion, an immediate and strategic threat, warning that any area containing militants and soldiers will remain vulnerable to targeting attempts, especially through kidnapping operations.
At the end of his analysis, he stressed that the people of the North do not aspire to war per se, and do not harbor any hostility towards the Lebanese people, but they believe that peace can only be achieved from a position of strength. He called on the leadership to be frank with the public about the fragility of the ceasefire, and to set clear goals and adhere to them, considering that the current round, even if it stops, has not yet been resolved.
