>>That sounds quite reasonable (although it may be hard to verify). If Lebanon would prefer to get rid of Hezbollah, it would probably still be compelled to protest against Israel.
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>>One potential problem, or hard-to-explain part, I see with the theory - or with Lebanon's part in it - is that Lebanon is receiving a large amount of damage from Israel. So, to say the least, it is not exactly getting rid of an unwanted Hezbollah "for free".
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>For sure it comes at a cost. If Lebanon were to fight Hezbollah directly it would divide the country and risk another civil war. Extemely costly and could threathen Lebanon's existence.
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>But if Lebanon is attacked from outside, the country unites. The Lebanese military then doesn't take any action and allows Hezbollah to be pounded into dust. This take 20 years of infrastucture with it. Rebuilding southern Lebanon is probably cheaper than rebuilding the entire country and the Lebanese are united at the end.
I had overlooked the large role that the "Party of God" apparently has in Lebanon. So indeed, it might work out to be more convenient that way.
Difference in opinions hath cost many millions of lives: for instance, whether flesh be bread, or bread be flesh; whether whistling be a vice or a virtue; whether it be better to kiss a post, or throw it into the fire... (from Gulliver's Travels)