This weekend, Israel targeted Hezbollah’s top military commander in Beirut. American media wondered what that meant for the ceasefire in Lebanon. That concern is directed at the wrong party.

Israel signed that ceasefire one year ago, which brought an end to conflict with Hezbollah – with the condition that Hezbollah disarm and leave the southern part of the country. Hezbollah has defied those terms ever since, and had begun rearming itself.

Israel has the same problem in Gaza. Donald Trump’s ceasefire also requires Hamas to disarm and relinquish control, which the terrorists refuse to do. Both proxy armies expect Israel and the West to ignore their violations and repudiations in order to preserve political gains from pauses in fighting on both fronts. It’s the strategy they’ve employed for years.

However, the October 7 massacres forced Israel and the US to change their strategies in dealing with terror. This time, we must see disarmament through to the end – or let Israel finish both jobs.

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