Ziad Abu Rish, associate professor of Middle East studies at Bard College, said
most observers believe Netanyahu is escalating strikes on Lebanon to demonstrate
unstoppable resolve—seeking to occupy southern Lebanon and to hit Hezbollah and
Lebanese civilians. Saturday’s attack that killed 11 continues a pattern since
the ceasefire: Israel, with perceived US acquiescence, attacking Hezbollah and
Lebanese civilians without consequences. The ceasefire was largely nominal and
only briefly held June 19-23 after Iran pressed for a US understanding to halt
Israeli strikes. In US-mediated talks with Israel and Lebanon, Washington
proposed Israel limit its operations and occupation to southern Lebanon and the
Bekaa Valley in exchange for refraining from strikes on Beirut. The result, Abu
Rish said, is that southern Lebanese civilians continue to live under Israeli
occupation and air strikes, and most destruction of civilian infrastructure in
the south—homes, hospitals, schools, fortifications and farmland—occurred in
Israeli-controlled areas during the ceasefire.
