The cycle is all too familiar. A conflict erupts, Western powers rush in to broker a ceasefire, and diplomatic handshakes follow promises of peace. The script includes international monitors, strongly worded resolutions, and, most critically, the expectation that non-state actors—often well-armed terrorist organizations—will willingly disarm in exchange for political normalization.
It’s the same story every time. And every time, it fails.
The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon is the latest case in point. The ink is barely dry, yet Hezbollah is not disarming. On the contrary, the Iranian proxy is visibly rearming—openly, aggressively, and with full knowledge of the Lebanese government. What’s more, it’s doing so despite enormous international pressure and even targeted Israeli military operations that have claimed top-tier figures, including Hezbollah’s Chief of Staff Ali Tabatabai.
For Israel, this isn’t just a frustrating diplomatic breakdown—it’s a matter of national survival. After the horrors of October 7, no Israeli government can afford to tolerate a heavily-armed Hezbollah sitting just across the northern border, capable of launching another massacre into the Galilee. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have made their assessment clear: the current mechanism meant to hold Hezbollah accountable is a paper tiger. Violations go unpunished. Weapons flow in. Launch sites multiply. Terrorists train and dig in.
And yet, the Western powers cling to the same broken template: propose a ceasefire, demand disarmament, trust terrorists to honor their word, and leave enforcement to toothless international bodies like UNIFIL. It hasn’t worked before. It won’t work now. But it makes for good optics—until everything falls apart again, at which point the blame can be redirected toward Israel for defending itself.
But this time, Israel is not playing the game. The IDF continues to carry out preemptive strikes on Hezbollah positions, including launch ramps and weapons storage sites, while planning for broader operations. As one American official put it, “An Israeli operation in Lebanon is drawing closer.”
It has to. Because while the world hopes for voluntary demilitarization from terrorists who pledge Israel’s destruction, Israel understands the reality: peace cannot be negotiated with armed proxies of Iran who see every ceasefire as a chance to reload.
The West may be content with illusions of diplomacy. But for Israel, illusions are a luxury it can no longer afford.
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