But this is a time for prudence and not just retaliating with massive force. If they want to live in peace and security over the long term, they have to understand more realistically the consequences of Israeli measures and what it can and cannot effectively do. He said a massive economic development plan is necessary for south Lebanon - a plan that should be funded by the US and European Union. This type of plan would give returning residents to south Lebanon an economic stake in the area, both so that they won't want to see anything destroy it again and also to undercut Hizbullah's popularity, which is propped up by providing social and economic services. These are people who have been living under very difficult security conditions.
Economic development needs to come, and it needs to come swiftly.
The IDF withdrawal, Ranstorp says, is not the end of the conflict with Hizbullah. Hizbullah knows this, which is why it did not want Israel to pull out, knowing full well that when it does, its own wings will be clipped. Although Ganor said this type of analysis has internal logic as far as Hizbullah is concerned, he said it fails to take into account the greater picture - meaning the interest of Syria and Iran. And its patrons do not all of a sudden seem interested in peace and quiet settling over northern Israel - regardless of who controls south Lebanon. Now playing Israeli music.