today.lorientlejour.com Open in urlscan Pro
2606:4700:20::ac43:445b  Public Scan

Form analysis
4 forms found in the DOM

GET /search

<form action="/search" method="get"> <input type="text" name="q" placeholder="Search here"> <a data-track-event="general_click" data-track-real-event-name="search_clicked" href="#" class="submit hover-black-invert">Search</a>
  <div class="results hidden">
    <p> results for</p>
  </div>
</form>

GET /search

<form action="/search" method="get"> <input type="text" name="q" placeholder="Search here"> <a data-track-event="general_click" data-track-real-event-name="search_mob" href="#" class="submit hover-black-invert">Search</a>
  <div class="results hidden">
    <p> results for</p>
  </div>
</form>

GET /search

<form action="/search" method="get"> <input type="text" name="q" placeholder="Search"> <a href="#" class="submit"></a> </form>

Name: paywall-login — POST #

<form action="#" method="post" name="paywall-login">
  <div class="form-header">
    <h3>In order to continue,</h3>
    <h2>Create a free account</h2>
    <p>And benefit from 3 additional articles</p>
  </div>
  <div class="social-login"> <a data-track-event="datawall_register_facebook" data-track-articleid="1360500" href="/account/index.php?action=login_facebook&amp;redirect=https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1360500/nasrallah-faces-a-difficult-choice.html" rel="nofollow" class="facebook"> <i></i>Log in with Facebook
</a> <a data-track-event="datawall_register_google" data-track-articleid="1360500" href="https://lorientlejour.com/account/login_google?redirect=https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1360500/nasrallah-faces-a-difficult-choice.html" rel="nofollow" class="google"> <i></i>Log in with Google
</a>
    <div> <span>OR</span> </div>
  </div>
  <div class="container">
    <div class="register_paywall">
      <div class="row">
        <div class="full"> <label>Name</label> <input type="text" name="name" required="" class="displayName"> </div>
      </div>
      <div class="row">
        <div class="full"> <label>E-mail</label> <input type="email" name="E-mail" required="" class="email_address"> </div>
      </div>
      <div class="row">
        <div class="full"> <label>Password</label> <input type="password" name="password" required="" class="password pr-password"> <input type="hidden" name="password_strength"> </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div class="login_paywall hidden"> <input type="hidden" name="redirect" value="https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1360500/nasrallah-faces-a-difficult-choice.html">
      <div class="row">
        <div class="full"> <label>E-mail</label> <input type="email" name="email" required="" class="login_email"> </div>
      </div>
      <div class="row">
        <div class="full"> <label>Password</label> <input type="password" name="password" required="" class="login_password"> </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div class="row">
      <p class="error message"></p>
    </div>
    <div class="subscription-notice">
      <div class="newsletter"> <input type="checkbox" name="newsletter" value="1"> <span></span>
        <p>Subscribe to our newsletters and offers.<br> You can unsubscribe at any time*</p>
      </div>
      <div class="terms">
        <p>By signing up, you agree to our <a href="#">Terms and conditions</a> and <a href="#">privacy policy</a>.</p>
      </div>
    </div> <a data-track-event="datawall_register" data-track-articleid="1360500" href="#" class="submit black-button register_articlepage hover-black-invert">Sign Up</a>
  </div>
</form>

Text Content

Fermer la pub






 * L’Orient-le Jour
 * .
 * L’orient Litteraire

Login Subscribe Join us on WhatsApp
Independent . Critical . Lebanese
Menu
 * Discover our app
 * Join us on WhatsApp
 * Politics
 * Elections 2022
 * Economy
 * World
 * Society
 * Culture
 * Opinion

 * Videos

 * Special Series

 * Our Initiatives

 * L’Orient-Le Jour
 * L’Orient Littéraire

 * Who we are
 * Contact us
 * Legal notice
 * Privacy policy
 * Advertise with us
 * Subscriptions
 * Newsletters
 * Careers
 * FAQ


 * Hamas-Israel war
 * Politics
 * Economy
 * World
 * Society
   * Culture
 * Opinion
 * Videos
   * The explainer
 * Newsletters
 * A Christmas of Solidarity

Login Subscribe
Search
Search

results for

Subscribe
 * Live news
 * Politics
 * Hamas-Israel war
 * Economy
 * World
 * Society
 * Culture
 * Opinion
 * Newsletters

Search

results for

Subscribe now

A Christmas of Solidarity Download app
 * Join us on WhatsApp
 * Politics
 * Elections 2022
 * Economy
 * World
 * Society
 * Culture
 * Opinion
 * Videos
 * Special Series
 * Our Initiatives
 * L’Orient-Le Jour
 * L’Orient Littéraire
 * Who we are
 * Contact us
 * Legal notice
 * Privacy policy
 * Advertise with us
 * Subscriptions
 * Newsletters
 * Careers
 * FAQ


EDITORIAL


NASRALLAH FACES A DIFFICULT CHOICE

L'Orient Today / By Anthony SAMRANI, 11 December 2023 13:52

 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 

 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 


IN THE PORTFOLIO


HAMAS-ISRAEL WAR

We are not out of the woods yet. Hamas’ bloody attack and the retaliatory
carnage that Israel has rained on the Gaza Strip will have regional consequences
for months, probably even years to come.

The shape the region will take after this never-ending tragedy is yet to be
known. How far is Israel ready to go to prove to the whole world, and above all
to itself, that the Oct. 7 attack was just an “accident of history?”

What will remain of Gaza when the guns finally stop firing? What impact will
this war have on regional balances, on Israeli relations with the rest of the
world and with Arab countries in particular, and on Iran’s plans for the Middle
East?

On day 65 of the war one thing is clear: the aftermath of this war will leave
the world worse than before. The idea that a local, regional or even
international order can be rebuilt after that is a utopian fantasy that no one
really believes.

Lebanon is not to be outdone. On Oct.7, the relative stability that governed
Israel-Hezbollah relations on the southern border was disrupted, and the
political trajectory that the party has taken since its last confrontation with
Israel in the summer of 2006 was seriously called into question.

Since then, Hezbollah has chosen to focus on strengthening its local base and
its influence in the Arab world to the detriment of “resistance,” which over the
years has been relegated to pure rhetoric.

Has Hamas forced Hezbollah out of its “comfort zone?” Or has Hezbollah decided
that now is the time to rekindle the flame of “resistance?” Did Operation
al-Aqsa Flood surprise the party, as it claimed, or was it caught by surprise,
along with its Iranian sponsor, by the US-Israeli reaction?

In any case, Hezbollah’s strategy has been based on an extremely delicate
balance since Oct.8: it is about waging war without waging it completely and
without causing Lebanon to pay an exorbitant price. The Iran-aligned group does
not want an all-out confrontation with Israel, let alone the US, and has shown
some degree of restraint since the start of hostilities. Despite heavy losses
(over 100) in its ranks, this approach has so far paid off for the party, making
it stronger locally and regionally.

However, its calculations have been disrupted by those of the opposing side,
which is much more determined to change the status quo at the border.

What had been rumored behind the scenes for weeks was made official last
Wednesday by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Israel “will take Hezbollah
beyond the Litani River, either through an international political settlement or
through military action,” Gallant warned.

Washington seems to have convinced its ally to give diplomacy a chance. As
surprising as it may sound, Hezbollah is not completely closing the door on this
option, which would require it to comply with Resolution 1701 by withdrawing its
fighters, in particular the al-Radwan elite force, to the north of the Litani
River.

In exchange, however, Hezbollah would demand that Israel also comply with the UN
resolution by withdrawing from all Lebanese territory in southern Lebanon, which
would pave the way for a settlement of the border dispute between the two
countries.

Hezbollah does not want a war that could turn Lebanon into a new Gaza — the
images of destruction coming out of southern Lebanon this weekend give a glimpse
of what an all-out war would look like — and neither does it want to risk
undermining everything it has achieved on the Lebanese scene in a conflict that
it cannot win.

But neither can it give the impression of backing down when the latter is in the
process of reducing Gaza to ashes and defeating its Palestinian ally. A
diplomatic agreement, which would involve Hezbollah agreeing to re-freeze its
“resistance” — its reason for being — presupposes that the party can sell it as
a victory rather than a failure.

Hezbollah seems to be betting on time and an Israeli setback in Gaza to avoid
having to make this impossible choice. But if Israel succeeds in destroying
Hamas militarily in the Palestinian enclave, Lebanon will become its next target
and Hassan Nasrallah will have no choice but to make a decision: back down, in a
position of weakness, or accept the risk of all-out war. We are not at the end
of our tether.

This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour. Translation
by Joelle El Khoury.

We are not out of the woods yet. Hamas’ bloody attack and the retaliatory
carnage that Israel has rained on the Gaza Strip will have regional consequences
for months, probably even years to come.The shape the region will take after
this never-ending tragedy is yet to be known. How far is Israel ready to go to
prove to the whole world, and above all to itself, that the Oct. 7 attack was
just an...


YOU HAVE REACHED YOUR ARTICLE LIMIT

Stay updated on the news for only $1.

Subscribe now

ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT?

Log in


YOU HAVE REACHED AN ARTICLE THAT IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO L’ORIENT TODAY
SUBSCRIBERS.




Subscribe now Log in


IN ORDER TO CONTINUE,


CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT

And benefit from 3 additional articles

Log in with Facebook Log in with Google
OR
Name
E-mail
Password
E-mail
Password



Subscribe to our newsletters and offers.
You can unsubscribe at any time*

By signing up, you agree to our Terms and conditions and privacy policy.

Sign Up

Already have an account? Log in


IN THE PORTFOLIO


HAMAS-ISRAEL WAR

 * Lebanon border fighting dashes hopes for independent sustainable farmers
 * Avichay Adraee, the Israeli spokesman irritating Arabs
 * The Golan, a possible new front against Israel?

See all the portfolio


ON THE SAME TOPIC

 * Hezbollah
 * Israel
 * Lebanon
 * Gaza
 * Hamas
 * Iran
 * US
 * the Litani River


OUR SPECIAL SERIES


 * HAMAS-ISRAEL WAR


 * ‘INSTA’-NT LEBANESE CUISINE


 * SA7TEIN

All Special Series



YOU SHOULD READ…



FIRST-PERSON


LONELINESS, FEAR, GRIEF IN ARAB DIASPORA AMID GAZA ONSLAUGHT


RUWAN FARHAT

OP-ED


WAR IS WHAT HAMAS AND IRAN WANT


BERNARD HAYKEL

OP-ED


THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS AN EDUCATION CRISIS


THE RT. HON. GORDON BROWN AND YASMINE SHERIF

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES


WE MUST COMMIT TO ENDING BARRIERS FOR YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES


EDOUARD BEIGBEDER

INDEPENDENCE DAY


EIGHTY YEARS AGO, TODAY


RONNIE CHATAH

COMMENTARY


ANTI-SEMITISM, ISLAMOPHOBIA: SHARED HATRED?


SOULAYMA MARDAM BEY





ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR: A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN ONE DAY



Staying informed is critical. Subscribe for $1.



Subscribe now Send offer by E-mail
Please check your info and try again
Offer sent. We hope to welcome you among our subscribers.


L'ORIENT TODAY IS SEEKING
PASSIONATE, PERSISTENT JOURNALISTS.

Apply now


MOST READ

 * 1
   
   LEBANON
   
   
   PALESTINE SOLIDARITY: SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIONS, BANKS,
   ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES CLOSED MONDAY

 * 2
   
   LIVE
   
   
   1 DEAD, 3 INJURED AS ISRAELI SHELLING CONTINUES ON SOUTHERN LEBANON: DAY 66
   OF HAMAS-ISRAEL WAR

 * 3
   
   EDITORIAL
   
   
   NASRALLAH FACES A DIFFICULT CHOICE


ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR: A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN ONE DAY



Staying informed is critical. Subscribe for $1.



Subscribe now Send offer by E-mail
Please check your info and try again
Offer sent. We hope to welcome you among our subscribers.
 * 
 * Opinion
 * Nasrallah faces a difficult choice

Staying informed is critical, subscribe for $1.

Subscribe

ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT?

Log in


YOU HAVE 2 FREE ARTICLES LEFT

To enjoy unlimited access to all L’Orient Today content, subscribe.


YOU HAVE 1 FREE ARTICLE LEFT

To enjoy unlimited access to all L’Orient Today content, subscribe.



Independent . Critical . Lebanese
 * Our sections
   * Politics
   * Economy
   * World
   * Society
   * Culture
   * Opinion
   
   
   * SUBSCRIPTIONS
     
     Subscribe and support
     L’Orient Today
     
     Subscribe
 * Newsletters
   
   
   * NEWSLETTERS
   
   * Reframe
   * Morning Brief
   * Your weekly newsletter
   * E-mail Alerts
   
   
   * SUBSCRIPTIONS
     
     Subscribe and support L’Orient Today
     
     Subscribe
   * Facebook
   * Twitter
   * Instagram
   * YouTube
   * Apple
   * Android
 * * Who we are
   * Contact us
   * Legal notice
   * Privacy policy
   * Advertise with us
   * Careers
   * FAQ
   * L’Orient-Le Jour
   * L’Orient Littéraire

Design Datagif, development WhiteBeard

© 2022 L’Orient-Le Jour. All rights reserved.

© 2022 L’Orient-Le Jour All rights reserved

Design Datagif,
development WhiteBeard



We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience, analyze site traffic,
measure our services performance, personalize content and serve targeted
advertisements. By continuing your browsing, you consent to our use of cookies.
Learn more

I agreeTell me more