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Yoav Limor is a veteran journalist and defense analyst specializing in Israeli advocacy, global Jewish affairs, and Middle Eastern politics. A passionate advocate for Israel, he frequently appears on radio, television, and in print to provide insightful analysis and counter media bias.

Every few weeks, the Israeli public receives a painful reminder that the most violent, deadly and complex sector is not the Gaza Strip or Lebanon, but Judea and Samaria.
A second tunnel discovered under the Israel-Lebanon border, and a border clash between IDF troops and Hezbollah operatives, prove the threat on the northern frontier is very real.
The tunnel in question was supposed to allow ‎Hezbollah to realize Hassan Nasrallah’s pledge to “liberate the ‎Galilee.”
The real ‎objective of “Operation Northern Shield” is meant for the ‎international community. The Israeli message is ‎clear: Hezbollah violated U.N. Resolution 1701 ‎‎and ‎breached Israeli sovereignty, and its actions may bring a war ‎to the region.‎
While the media was abuzz over a number of incidents and reports, nothing significant actually changed on the ground.
We can only hope that Israel is utilizing this lull to bolster its assets and mitigate the potential risks, thereby improving its starting position before the next round of fighting begins.
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman had to learn what any other ‎candidate will have to wrap his head around quickly: National security is sacred.
Israel has no strategic solution to the Gaza situation, and is busy putting out ‎tactical fires. The desire to avoid another war is ‎legitimate, but it is also dangerous considering the ‎prolonged erosion in Israeli deterrence.
It seems that this time Israel and Hamas will have trouble securing a quick truce • With a lack of restraining elements in Gaza, Israel has no choice but to respond in a manner that will restore deterrence – even at the potential cost of a large conflict.
The mediators hope the conclusion of this stage will help foster trust between the sides and help them engage in long-term understandings, which would consist of a thorough rehabilitation of Gaza.
Washington and Jerusalem hope that the ‎sanctions will affect wider circles supported by Tehran—namely, Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in ‎the Gaza Strip and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. ‎
Aside from Yair Golan (who is already on retirement leave), the other two candidates can and should stay in the army: Nitzan Alon as deputy chief and Eyal Zamir as GOC Army Headquarters.