Yesterday, President Biden confirmed what had been rumored for weeks - in return for freeing five hostages, the United States will allow South Korean banks to release six billion frozen Iranian dollars. The excuses are two: doing so will facilitate release of five Americans held in Iranian jails and the money can only be used by Iran for humanitarian purposes. Poppycock! Iran has already announced it will use the money however it wishes. And even if Iran uses that money for food, etc., money is fungible. Other cash in the hands of the Ayatollahs will consequently be freed up for more nefarious purposes - one of which is strengthening Hezbollah.
In a time when Hezbollah is more strident, Iran is supporting Russia with weaponry, and Iran continues to motor forward with arming its proxies while advancing its nuclear capability - is this the time to give it a sorely needed cash infusion? And, while five hostages will be freed, Iran will surely take more (as is the lesson of the past), for which the price of release will spiral higher.
It just doesn’t make sense. As a result of the deal, far more than five innocents will die from what the six billion dollars will spawn, Hezbollah will grow stronger, the likelihood of Israel embroiled in a war will increase, and Iran will be emboldened.
And to all of you receiving this bi-monthly newsletter for the first time, please write to me about what you think could be improved. And, of course, unsubscribe if you would rather not get this. But, if you think it worthwhile, please forward this newsletter to anybody who you think would be interested in reading it.
— Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks with NBC News' Lester Holt in Tehran. NBC News
Iranian President Says Tehran Will Spend $6 Billion Released in Prisoner Exchange “Wherever You Need it” — September 12, 2023 — Written by Don De Luce for NBC News
Iran Building Airport in Southern Lebanon to Attack Israel, Gallant Says — September 11, 2023 — Written by Emanuel Fabian for Times of Israel — This is a perfect example of Iranian money at work in Lebanon in support of Hezbollah. Imagine what six billion more dollars will do!
UNSC Empowers UNIFIL to Inspect Hezbollah Sites, Extends Mandate — August 31, 2023 — Written by Tovah Lazaroff for The Jerusalem Post — After negotiations with France, who wished to weaken UNIFIL’s mandate, “The resolution adopted today includes language strongly reaffirming UNIFIL’s full freedom of movement and its ability to conduct announced and unannounced patrols,” US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the UNSC. However, hidden in the small print of the resolution is language that refers to “occupied Shebaa Farms” which Tony Badran at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies argues effectively reverses former President Trump’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
UNIFIL Go Out or Go Slim — August 23, 2023 — Written by Sarit Zehavi for Alma — The author persuasively laid out the problem UNIFIL, as presently constituted, presents for Israel and its past failures. Although written before the Security Council re-approved UNIFIL for another year, its message remains relevant and probably clairvoyant.
Israel Needs a New Strategy Against Hezbollah - Opinion — September 7, 2023 — Written by Omer Dostri for The Jerusalem Post — “It remains imperative for Israel to bolster its deterrent capabilities against Hezbollah. Consequently, a middle ground must be sought, and the Campaign Between the Wars (CBW) strategy should be activated in Lebanon, mirroring Israel’s actions in Syria and various other locations in the Middle East. This operation must be carried out discreetly and with ambiguity, to minimize potential reactions from Hezbollah.”
Treasury Department Sanctions Hezbollah ‘Green’ Front Group — August 16, 2023 — Written by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies — “The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Lebanon-based Green Without Borders (GWB) and its leader, Zuhair Subhi Nahla, on August 16 for aiding Hezbollah. Treasury explained that GWB “has provided support to and cover” for Hezbollah’s operations in southern Lebanon along the Lebanon-Israel border “while publicly operating under the guise of environmental activism.”
Israel’s Struggle with Hezbollah—A War Without End is now available in eBook and hardback format on Amazon and IngramSpark. This compelling narrative explores Hezbollah’s origins and cancerous growth, traces Israel’s response, and reveals Israel’s present readiness to meet Hezbollah’s challenge.
Cliff Sobin
Important Link—Alma Research and Education Center: Understanding the Security Challenges on Israel’s Northern Border