Hitting where it hurts most

Jan.21, 2008


Hitting where it hurts most


ISRAELI ministers have reacted as expected to Hizbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah at their weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, one day after Nasrallah claimed to possess the body parts of Israeli soldiers who fought during the Israeli war on Lebanon in 2006. They have called for his assassination, but then the world knows that Nasrallah is on top of the hit-list of Israel's secret assassins. The new call only adds a sense of urgency to their task.
In his comments on Saturday during his first public appearance for nearly one year, Nasrallah — one of the most well-protected individuals in the world — hit the Israeli government and military where it hurt when he chided them for abandoning the bodies of soldiers killed in clashes with Hizbollah in southern Lebanon in the summer of 2006.
It is indeed natural that Israelis were hurt. Israel prides itself on doing everything to recover the remains of its soldiers from fields of battle and has in the past freed prisoners in exchange for remains of soldiers and civilians. To be publicly accused of not bothering about the bodies of Israeli soldiers slain in battle is unthinkable for Israeli leaders and military. It is a big blow not only their professional pride but also what they consider as a national commitment.
The accusation has yet another dimension. It comes a few days before the release of an investigation report on Israel's conduct during the war with Hizbollah in 2006. The report is expected to be critical of the government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as well as the Israeli military. Obviously, the Israeli ministers are also mindful that the report would have a deep impact on the Israeli society at large since the military actions of 2006 marked the first time that a war was brought to Israeli population centres and villages and shook Israel's perceived image of invincibility. The Hizbollah claims could add to the heat on the Israeli political establishment led by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, something it could do without at this point where it is already seeking compromise solutions to ensure the survival of the Olmert-led coalition.
By chiding the Israelis over the remains of soldiers now said to be in Hizbollah's possession, Nasrallah appeared to implicitly pressure Israel to accept a prisoner exchange. Israel is thought to be holding at least seven Lebanese prisoners while Hizbollah has two Israeli soldiers it captured in July 2006.
Israeli military officials have confirmed that Hizbollah could have the remains of about 10 soldiers were involved, but that Israel would not negotiate with Hizbollah over them. Some contacts are indeed under way for a possible swap involving the two captive Israeli soldiers, but, it would seem, Nasrallah is not satisfied with the pace of negotiations.
Why should there be so much fuzz over Nasrallah's comments?
The answer is simple: The Israeli political body and military establishment are still smarting from the surprisingly strong resistance Hizbollah put up against the Israeli assault in 2006 and they are still unsure how they would fare if they were told to repeat the action now.