Mom, we're back in Lebanon
This is one long war, which started in 1948 and buried tens of thousands on both sides
Eighteen years of endless bloodshed, more than 1,500 dead, reached an end thanks to a single decision of then Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Some have said that it was Barak's only successful decision.
Jews have a short memory, Israelis have an even shorter one: People have already forgotten how they listened to the news every single hour: Who was killed today? Where is he from? Have we already reached the blood quota (about 20 dead per year)?
About 120 young Israelis live, love, breathe today – without knowing that they owe their life to that decision. Then, it was worthwhile to decide that way. Now, some may say the lives saved then and since then will be taken in the coming days. We shall see about that. Meanwhile, mom, we're back in Lebanon.
Masters of psychological warfare
2. The IDF has been waiting for this moment for almost six years. Since it left Lebanon the army sat on the border line, all its senses stretched. From afar, on the Lebanese side, Hizbullah prepared and refined its rocket array – improved, advanced, developed and built. The rockets' range became longer, aiming to cover wide areas, all the way to the Sharon region.
During all those long years the IDF has been "dying" to hit hard the huge – even terrifying – Katyusha array, but permission was not granted. The aircrafts did not take off. The cannons remained silent. Now all the safety buttons are released.
3. The IDF went to war against the most sophisticated, cruel, devious and difficult enemy it ever had to face. Neither Palestinians, nor Syrians, or even Egyptians and Jordanians, were as difficult as Hizbullah members. And that is the truth: They are professionals; they prepare their terror operations in an almost perfect way and plan each detail for the following days. They are masters of psychological warfare and have great knowledge on the other side, which are us. That is the truth.
A horrible, terrible character
4. Do not be tempted by the rice they will throw at you. Do not take pictures with the Jumail family. Do not pay attention to small children that will try to direct you to Hizbullah hideouts. Do not feel sorry for small children holding toy guns. Do not lift barriers with your own hands. Do not wave to a beautiful Lebanese woman standing on her roof. Do not believe their smiles. Lebanon is not a birth and citizenship land: Lebanon is a character, a horrible, terrible character.
5. An over-told IDF tale tells about former Intelligence Chief Major-General Aharon Yariv, who every day at 6 p.m., used to close himself up for 30 minutes in his office with his Iraqi-born driver. Later, when he was asked what took place there, between the door and the desk, he replied: "All day long I listen to our experts. At 6 p.m. I ask for the enemy's opinion."
Today – years after Hizbullah turned into one of the most bitter terror organizations and a central player in Lebanese politics – Israel's political and military leadership, as well as the academic community, has problems with "reading comprehension." There are good experts, there are those who are not as good, but it seems that no one knows and understands what is going on there. Or maybe there is no way to understand?
Long-day battle
6. Yitzhak Rabin once said there was only one war in Israeli history. It started in 1948 and is still going on. Sometimes it gets names: The War of Independence, the Sinai Campaign, the Six-Day War, the Yom Kippur War, the Lebanon War, and so on. This is the same war, only the names change.
The war – or maybe it will only be a long-day battle against Hizbullah – will not wipe this terror organization off the map. It will not stop the terrorists, the war equipment, and the hatred. It may barely damage the terror structure, the buildings, maybe even the combat units, but sooner or later – probably sooner – Hizbullah will return to its evil ways.
It is a multiheaded Hydra, with every chopped head activating another head and growing a new head.
As already mentioned, this is one long war, which started in 1948 and buried tens of thousands on both sides. From this war as well, no victory albums will be produced.
Eitan Haber was late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's bureau chief
