The aforementioned convergence is not by chance. It reflects the “trap” in which the Lebanese state finds itself today, positioned between an enemy, Israel, which denies its sovereignty over its territory, and a “local” non-entity in name only, Hezbollah, which operates in a powerful and effective manner that renders the sovereignty of the Lebanese state incomplete. For Israel, its campaign has two main objectives. The first is to “cleanse” the towns and villages within what is referred to as the security zone in southern Lebanon of their predominantly Shiite population, causing their destruction and preventing residents from returning. In this way, Israel seeks to avoid negotiating with Lebanon over the future of the areas within the security belt or zone. Instead, the Lebanese and Israeli sides would focus on extending the ceasefire and facilitating the return of displaced people from areas adjacent to the border strip, and eventually initiating the reconstruction process.
