It should be clear by now that the second phase of the ceasefires with Hamas and Hezbollah have little chance of kicking in. That is, the notion that both terrorist groups would somehow lay down their arms, relinquish power and just fade away was never more than a pipe dream. As we have said here before, they have little reason to voluntarily consign themselves to political and military oblivion. And their having promised to do so was perversely, only a ploy to secure a ceasefire that would give them a safe harbor to revive their forces and reinforce their power unobstructed.
To be sure, Hamas and Hezbollah justify their political power and arsenals as necessary for defending against Israel. But as we all know, their weapons and desire for “a state within a state” have generally been the triggers of the violent confrontations with Israel.
But at some point, his rope-a-dope stratagem has to be confronted before the two terrorist groups successfully rebuild and maximize the threat they pose.
And the clock is ticking.