What is Israel's incentive to honor the ceasefire?

Question

It's my understanding that UN forces have been in southern Lebanon for at least 6 years (18 years?) in order to prevent Hezollah from building up arms (Resolution 1559). Israel has agreed to a ceasefire without the assurance that their kidnapped soldiers will be returned, and now I'm hearing that the new multi-national force will not have the authority to disarm Hezbollah! Why do they need the authority when that's what Resolution 1559 already called for?

Where are all the nations that have been demanding that Israel stop the bombing? They expect Israel to stop *immediately* and then wait for "up to a year" for the multi-national peacekeeping forces? Yes, Israel accepts every peace proposal even when they get *nothing* in return, and also let the opposition declare victory. Israel will agree to anything if there is even the slightest hope for peace.

I see no reason whatsoever for Israel to maintain the ceasefire other than their eternal hope for peace!

L'chaim!

Answer 1

There really isn't any. The UN is (as always) doing nothing. France is trying to back down as a supplier of a significant portion of the force. The force doesn't know what is is supposed to do (the wording is very vague) and Lebanon has already said it will not disarm or move Hezbollah.

Basically business as usual.

Answer 2

You misunderstand: Israel is not an aggressor nation. The terrorist organization Hezbollah is the aggressor.

The cease-fire does not prohibit Israel from responding to Hezbollah assaults -- although, arguably, it does subject Israel's intelligence to the sort of scrutiny to which Bush claims no nation's intelligence apparatus ought ever be subjected.

Ultimately, UNIFIL will fail, because it doesn't have the tools required to disarm Hezbollah terrorists -- and that isn't just a matter of Rules of Engagement:

Because Lebanon has legitimized Hezbollah as a political actor, UNIFIL has no legitimate authority to go after Hezbollah: interfering with the domestic affairs of a nation is a war crime.

If Lebanon elects to outlaw Hezbollah, to purge from within the terrorists from itself, it has to be extremely careful how it goes about doing that; else, it is no better than Hitler, Stalin or Bush.

Answer 3

The US will not cut off aid to Israel, because Hezbollah & the UN are not living up to their end of agreement. Israel is honorable & that is the only thing holding them back.

Answer 4

I agree with Dwight's answer, plus Israel has already caused immense damage to Lebanon and nearly destroyed the infrastructure of the nation. The damage has been done and they have proven their point. Continuing to attack Lebanon would just be like beating a dead horse.

Answer 5

1) to give the Lebanese people time to take Hezbollah to task and repair Lebanon the way they promised.
2) because the threat has been mitigated enough for US to handle Iran directly without fear of dragging Israel into a Saddam style SCUD attack.
Hopefully, one of these 2 will happen...else Israel got fooled.

Answer 6

Israel love peace.

Answer 7

to save the face. They should respect other religions they know what is it like to be Prosecuted so live others alone and They are using US Weapons and the us needs Jewish votes in US same as my Gov in Canada they stand for Vote and Cash.

Answer 8

The UN is already arriving
Israel's incentive is the billions that the US sends them in aid each year...we could cut it off

Answer 9

none...they get to have more rockets rained on them by the UN I mean hezbollah.

Great win for the UN...losers