With ceasefire holding, Home Front Command eases restrictions in northern Israel [View all]

Last edited Sun Dec 1, 2024, 08:59 AM - Edit history (1)

This is the headline from an article in The Times of Israel dated 11/30/24. It is a little strange to have such a headline when the body of the article talks about Israeli military strikes since the ceasefire. It is particularly unusual in describing those strikes which include one on the city of Sidon. Unusual not least of all because Netanyahu the other day was quite forceful in stating that Israel reserves the right to respond militarily to violations of the ceasefire. OK. That also seems to be backed up by this statement from the article about an assurance by the US:

"The US has also reportedly provided a side letter specifying Israel’s right to respond to any violations of the ceasefire."

Well OK then. The ceasefire is described as being for 60 days during which the IDF withdraws from Southern Lebanon, Lebanon deploys 5000 troops to Southern Lebanon and Hezbollah is not to operate south of the Litani River. OK so then the article describes some Israeli actions against a vehicle etc. But then 2 mentions just kind of almost slip by. One says the IDF struck "deep" into Lebanon in one attack and then there is a specific mention of an IDF attack on the city of Sidon. Golly boys and girls I'm confused because it would seem that a violation by Hezbollah would have to be for something done south of the Litani River because the ceasefire doesn't say they can't be in Lebanon at all. It just says not south of the Litani River. Now I put on my Mr. Peabody glasses and looked at the map and it sure looks like Sidon is a pretty far distance north of the Litani River. Gee did the IDF have their map upside down? Why of course that must be it because I've been told that the IDF has never committed violations.

I guess it's just another one of those mysteries how an agreement got made in the Middle East that only has repercussions for violations for some parties but not all. Golly how could this keep happening over and over in these agreements with all of these concerned and honest arbiters for peace involved in the process? I'm sure such upstanding people just "overlooked" that aspect. Again. So let's sum up where we are on this fine Sunday morning. If one side commits violations they will be attacked militarily. If the other side commits violations they will get a vague mention in newspaper articles.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/with-ceasefire-holding-home-front-command-eases-restrictions-in-northern-israel/