Israel agreed to a deal on the eve of elections and also appeared to back down from its earlier claims, agreeing to a line off the coast that gives in to most of Lebanon’s demands. Although the deal has been praised by the US, it leaves questions about whether it will bring stability or whether Hezbollah can use it as a pretext to create tensions in the future and lay claim to areas off the coast.
Hezbollah, which appeared to be closely consulted by the Lebanese side about the deal, has claimed that it is some kind of a victory. At the same time, the group has also reserved for itself the right to “defend” Lebanon’s maritime claims, meaning that it dictated the deal without being a signatory. This puts Israel in a complex position because Hezbollah can claim at any point in the future a need to start a war over the deal, while Lebanon can never be held to account for Hezbollah’s actions.
The privilege Hezbollah always enjoys is unprecedented in the world. It controls Lebanon, and basically controls who will be appointed the country’s president; it controls a swath of southern Lebanon through militia checkpoints; stockpiles a massive, illegal arsenal of missiles that threaten the region; and yet it is never held to account for any of these actions.
For instance, it can fire rockets at Israel, or launch drones at gas platforms off the coast, and Lebanon can pretend that it isn’t responsible and so any Israeli actions against Hezbollah are a “violation” of Lebanon’s sovereignty. READ MORE
