2024-01-22 19:24:39
Yossi Joshua, the military correspondent for the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, said that the threat posed by the Lebanese Hezbollah has changed the condition of the Galilee in northern Israel from a safe area where one can enjoy the mountain air, to a military area filled with tanks, soldiers and senior officers, whose opinions differ on how to return life in the region to normal.
The reporter stated in his analytical article that in every operations center within the Northern Command of the Israeli army, there is a sign summarizing the mission, which is “Protecting Northern Communities,” which one can see in all residential areas, settlement outposts, and army positions that were recently established.
According to Joshua, it has become clear that this sign not only embodies a lived reality, but also consecrates a “bitter” truth. A senior Israeli army officer – whose name was not mentioned by the newspaper – said that he was committed to protecting the area, “but without residents, one can only wonder regarding the significance” of the presence of forces there.
Stark fact
The stark truth – adds the military analyst – is that the Galilee no longer resembles its former prosperous state. Today, it is more like a war-torn region where it is not known with certainty who has control over it.
The writer continues by saying that the current conditions there bring back memories of those who experienced fighting in southern Lebanon in the 1990s, when the Israeli army was conducting maneuvers on the back slope of the Safad area, and the soldiers were taking the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of being hit by an anti-tank missile from Hezbollah that was directed at targets. Military only.
But this approach to dealing with Hezbollah attacks no longer guarantees the safety of Israeli soldiers, as recent events have shown, according to the Yedioth Ahronoth article, which describes the killing of Barak Ayalon and his mother Mira last week as a painful reminder of the ineffectiveness of this strategy.
The correspondent pointed out that the Israeli army did not retaliate for the killing of Ayalon and his mother, nor did it launch a strong attack declaring that it had crossed the red lines. He believes that this abstention is another indication of the erosion of the deterrence force, which had already suffered serious damage when the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) attacked Israel in The seventh of last October.
Differences
The reporter mentioned in his analysis the differences between the past and the present in the tactics used by the Israeli army as precautionary measures in the north bordering Lebanon.
In the past, the army issued clear orders to drivers in the Safed area to turn off their car headlights. This area attracted many tourists who wanted to enjoy the atmosphere of the area. These military orders were issued in the middle of two famous vineyards. When the convoy eventually stopped, the army was very careful to choose a secret and hidden location.
Drivers were required to wear protective vests and helmets, place black tape over their car headlights, and use night vision devices. It should be noted that these situations occurred at a time when the era of mobile phones had not yet reached people.
There is another noticeable difference, according to Youshua. Previously, all these procedures were necessary before entering Lebanon.
Today, these measures are being applied before entering the territories subject to Israel, which is called the new security zone, according to the analytical article.
Joshua said that he was saddened to witness the shift from four-wheel-drive tourist vehicles to tanks and military jeeps, and the establishment of fortified positions for combat soldiers inside the valleys, in compliance with the instructions of the Galilee Division Commander, Brigadier General Shai Kalber.
nightmare
He added that Kalber is closely aware of what he called the looming “nightmare” represented by a possible invasion from Hezbollah’s “Radwan Military Unit.” According to Joshua, despite the efforts made by the army to push this major threat away by a few kilometers, this is certainly not enough to allay his fears.
On the morning of October 7, 2023, Kalber quickly took action, declared a state of war and mobilized all emergency reserve forces.
What he feared was that Hezbollah would be a participant in Hamas’ plan, and would implement a similar strategy in northern Israel, according to the military analyst in his article, where he describes the Lebanese party as more prepared, skilled and lethal compared to Hamas.
The writer went on to say that reports from Lebanon indicate no progress in negotiations aimed at removing Hezbollah from the border with Israel.
Joshua said that wisdom “dictates that we should not take unjustified risks.” Although Hezbollah may have withdrawn its physical presence on the border, its determination remains firm and has not wavered, as is evident in its declaration to continue fighting until the war ends in the Gaza Strip. Gaza is its worst.
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