That something very significant is about to happen in the state of Israel is more than a journalist’s instinct.
An announcement that Israel plans an attack on Hezbollah came as this was being written on the way to the Lebanese border on a ‘fact finding’ trip.
That this development is going to turn out good or bad will depend upon a host of factors that together amount to nothing more certain than a throw of the dice.
The horse’s mouth on this issue is someone who fits the description of a modern Major General, and who tells things as he sees them. Israel Ziv was in command of Israeli operations in Gaza before he returned to civilian life.
His message to visiting journalists from across Europe and America is absolutely clear and has implications for all western democracies.
Two former generals suggested to us that a deal with Lebanon and those on the northern border with Israel is a possibility and that and agreement to allow Israel to withdraw from Gaza might follow.
The alternative to use General Ziv’s terminology is that the current conflict will escalate “enormously”.
That this modern Major General is closely involved and influential is, not to put too fine a point, without question.
In his terms a deal on the issue of the Lebanese border including demilitarised zones and troop withdrawals is “close”.
In the south, again in his terms, withdrawal from Gaza is now possible. “I am watching very closely the command of the south.
“The Hamas command structure has been destroyed” he told the press pack.
Brigadier General Amir Avivi briefs journalists on the outskirts of Gaza.
Much the same message came from Brigadier General Amir Avivi as we arrived at the border of the Gaza Strip.
Speaking just 100 metres from Hamas territory the former commander of Israeli troops in Gaza waved his arm towards “enemy” territory and remarked somewhat ironically that “Israeli’s used to shop in Gaza”.
His message was much the same as General Ziv’s except that he was opposed to the government saying that troops in Gaza “should be moved to the north”.
His main message came across as concern about “Destroy Israel has been one huge, huge, industry”.
Referring to the problem of tens of thousands of rockets, “all of them with Iranian know- how” he went in to say “We need to control South Lebanon. We need to set objectives.”
As we were boarding a coach and preparing to pick up an armed soldier to accompany us on a trip to south Lebanon today it was notable that the emergency instructions focused on what to do “if we come under rocket attack”.
The scope of this press visit has certainly widened.
The New York Times this morning focused on the fact that Israel is preparing to “go into” Lebanon.
The discussion over breakfast focused on how the situation in Ukraine has upped the ante together with the political situation in the United States which has moved one aircraft carrier away from the coast of Israel ‘for strategic reasons’.
As Brigadier General Amir Aviva clearly stated “This is now a global war involving China, Iran and Russia”.
Clearly the international situation is driving the war into the more proactive engagement forecast by Major General Ziv.
The fact that a party of journalists from across United States and Europe are heading into Lebanon on the day of the Israeli announcement of it’s intentions demonstrates that it is not just Israel standing on the brink of something big.
Editor’s note: Lebanese media reported on Tuesday on a security incident in the southern Dahieh district of Beirut. According to Reuters, at least ten Hezbollah members were injured as a result of the explosion of their communication devices.
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