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Source: https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/27/trumps-lebanon-gamble-could-undermine-effort-against-iran/
U.S. Restrictions on IDF Activity in Lebanon Are Allowing Hizbullah to Continue Violating the Ceasefire
(Israel Hayom) Meir Ben Shabbat - The restrictions imposed on IDF activity in Lebanon are allowing Hizbullah to continue violating the ceasefire. In practice, this gives Hizbullah the ability to set new rules. President Donald Trump sought to restrain Israel in order to pave the way for diplomatic dialogue between Jerusalem and President Joseph Aoun's government. In practice, he has denied Israel part of the freedom of action it had until two months ago. The restraint he has imposed actually serves Hizbullah, the main opponent of the diplomatic process. If Gen. Aoun were capable of removing the security threat posed to Israel by Hizbullah, perhaps there would be room to discuss the price with him. But he comes to the negotiations with a different expectation: to stop Israel's military activity and establish a process that will lead to the IDF's withdrawal and restrict Israeli activity in his country. Aoun would indeed like to see Hizbullah disarmed, but he does not pretend to present this as a realistic goal that the Lebanese Army can achieve on its own. Restrictions on Israel's activity in Lebanon not only fail to strengthen Aoun's government against Hizbullah, but also entrench Iran's grip on this arena and encourage the regime in Tehran. Israel should not play by the rules Hizbullah sets. Its responses to ceasefire violations should be disproportionate in order to shake Hizbullah's basic assumptions as it plans operations against us. The writer, head of the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy, served as Israel's National Security Council head during 2017-2021.