Ha’aretz’s resident Jeremiah, Ari Shavit, paints a pretty grim picture about where the past two years have left Israel vis-à-vis its enemies:

Here are the results of Israel’s war against Hezbollah so far. Hezbollah is bringing home a living murderer, and Israel is bringing home two dead soldiers – over whose capture it sacrificed 160 other soldiers and civilians.

Hezbollah celebrates a symbolic victory, and Israel is in ideological crisis.

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Hezbollah has won almost complete political control over Lebanon, and Israel wallows in irrevocable political chaos.

Hezbollah is armed with 40,000 rockets threatening most of Israel’s territory, while Israel has no response.

Hezbollah increases its firepower four or five times, and Israel remains feebly silent.

Hezbollah doubles its fighting alignment and sets up numerous outposts north and south of the Litani River, which will force Israel to conquer half of Lebanon in the next confrontation, while Israel remains paralyzed with confusion.

Feeling its power, Hezbollah is demanding the Shaba Farms area as well, while Israel is stammering its way to the next withdrawal.

Two years after an ephemeral militia provoked a regional superpower, the militia is growing stronger than ever, and the regional superpower is in a state of turmoil, degeneration and foggy stupor.

And, he argues, things aren’t much better on the Palestinian, Iranian and Syrian fronts.

Read the full article here.

Hat tip: Jeffrey Goldberg

UPDATE: It is worth noting that not everyone in the Arab press is hailing Hezbollah’s “victory.”

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