Opinion: After Lebanon ceasefire, Netanyahu is running out of cards to play

When Hezbollah’s late secretary general, Hasan Nasrallah, was killed by 10 bunker-busting bombs dropped on a bunker 60 feet below ground, there was jubilation on the streets of Israel. 

"Oh Nasrallah, we’ll take you down, God willing, and send you back to God along with all of Hezbollah," were the lyrics of a song  blasted from one apartment building in Tel Aviv. 

A lifeguard announced to swimmers: "With happiness, joy and cheer, we announce officially that the rat Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated yesterday. The people of Israel live." And in common with received wisdom at the time, The Spectator proclaimed: "Nasrallah is dead and Hezbollah is broken." 

Only two months later, the mood in Israel is very different. Just 11 days ago, the defence minister, Israel Katz, said that the goal was to disarm Hezbollah and create a buffer zone in south Lebanon.

The army secured neither and the Israelis knew it.

READ MORE: After Lebanon ceasefire, Netanyahu is running out of cards to play