Fatal Overreach

The Lebanese hate Hezbollah today more than ever.

I was offered a Baklava this afternoon. I was told it was to celebrate the great festivities that are today. We are all supposed to cheer the “achievement” of capturing two Israeli soldiers by our heroic resistance. From a pure technical perspective, it is an achievement indeed; who else can capture two soldiers of one of the most powerful armies in the world?

But since when was Hezbollah so childish? “Look! No hands! Hurray!”

What about abu Ali, the baklava maker? Isn’t he one of the people whose dignity the resistance protects? Other people buy Baklava too; the tourists now leaving in scores could have contributed handsomely to Ali’s education. Besides, when the raging Israeli bull bombs abu Ali’s neighborhood, people will push baklava way down their purchasing lists.

Hezbollah is trying to fool us. It wants us to believe that it’s offering Israel a fair deal. We are being bluffed to relax, to conclude that Israel will eventually do “the right thing”; because -and here goes the bluff aimed at Israel- we have “Surprises” hidden up our sleeves.

But wait a second; are Hezbollah so ignorant of the Israeli Psyche right now? Sure the deal might sound good on paper: we swap prisoners and nobody gets hurt. But who says Israel is a calm Buddha who will sign the first deal that makes sense? We are talking about wounded prides that only blood can avenge. Hezbollah knows that very well, and it is intentionally asking for trouble to cement its nonexistent relevance.

Hezbollah might have fooled a few souls, but not others.

I for one am not fooled. I will not heed Nassrallah’s call. It is time the last militia in Lebanon be solved.