Politics Theory Other Israel's forever war in Lebanon w/ Nathaniel George
Mar 12, 2026
Nathaniel George, a SOAS scholar of modern Arab politics and author on Lebanon, guides listeners through Lebanon’s recent violence. He traces Israel’s repeated violations, Hezbollah’s resilience and motives for entering the Iran conflict. He maps new Israeli tactics, mass displacement and sectarian pressures. He connects historical interventions to likely renewed resistance.
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Ceasefire Was One-Sided And Ongoing Violation
- Israel never ceased attacks after the 2024 ceasefire, with UN recording ~15,000 violations including daily airstrikes and assassinations.
- Lebanese government found pesticide contamination 30 times normal and ~400 people killed in ~15 months, showing sustained campaign of destruction.
Israeli Occupations Triggered Initial Hezbollah Strikes
- Israel retained occupation points (Shab'a Farms, Hajar and five new positions) after the ceasefire, prompting Hezbollah to strike those positions first in 2023.
- Lebanese state moves to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani were contested and not clearly required in the ceasefire text.
Hezbollah Rebuilt Faster Than Public Estimates Suggested
- Claims Hezbollah was militarily degraded in 2024 should be viewed skeptically; it extended rocket range and later used new, larger weapons.
- Israel struggled to decapitate new leadership, suggesting resilience and adaptation.