00:00We're being told that, you know, Israel has been seizing new positions inside southern Lebanon.
00:05They're trying to create a buffer zone.
00:07I mean, there's a slightly depressing sense of deja vu here, isn't there?
00:11I mean, what's the point of that buffer zone, do you think?
00:14Part of it's deja vu. Part of it also, there's been a fundamental shift within Lebanon.
00:18Israelis obviously want to defend their country.
00:23They thought they had a ceasefire.
00:25They thought they had an agreement that the Lebanese army would disarm Hezbollah.
00:30On a permanent basis, the army made some strides in south Lebanon,
00:35but it wasn't enough to prevent Hezbollah from rather mindlessly joining in this round of the war.
00:41So these Israelis are taking matters into their own hands.
00:44I would hope that they have learned lessons from the past about the unexpected consequences,
00:50unintended consequences of a long-term occupation.
00:54But there's been fundamental change in Lebanon.
00:56You know, I've been going back, even though I was ambassador there a decade ago,
00:59I've been going back quite frequently.
01:01And the mood has shifted dramatically against Hezbollah,
01:04including within their own community of the Shia Muslims of Lebanon.
01:09They are frustrated and disgusted by all accounts with what has happened here.
01:14And you saw that in the cabinet decision, which was unanimously endorsed,
01:17including by Shia ministers, condemning,
01:19basically condemning Hezbollah and banning its use of arms.
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