Analysts: Israel Losing War On Many Levels

Analysts say Israel is losing its battles on many levels, from failing to route out Hezbollah, to prove its military superiority, and on the public relations front, as more cry "foul" over the deaths of so many civilians.

From San Jose Mercury News:

JERUSALEM - Hezbollah on Sunday fired its largest missile barrage yet into northern Israel - 156 Katyusha rockets that slammed into buildings, caused minor injuries and sparked widespread panic. But the biggest impact of the rocket attack was the message it sent: after nearly three weeks of fierce Israeli aerial bombardment, Hezbollah is still standing.

With pressure mounting for a cease-fire - and Israel agreeing to a 48-hour suspension of airstrikes - Israel appears poised to fall short of its original goal of routing the militant group and preventing it from rising again as a threat.

"Hezbollah looks like the big winner here," said Dick Leurdijk, a terrorism expert at Holland's prestigious Clingendael Institute. "They are clearly winning the war for world public opinion. From a public relations point of view, Israel is doing a very poor job."

Analysts say Israel's failure to make quick work of Hezbollah after Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers on July 12 is likely to have long-term ramifications, emboldening Israel's opponents and shattering the regional belief that Israel's military is all but unbeatable.

"Militarily it looks pretty much like a stand-off," said Robert Lowe, manager of English political research center Chatham House's Middle East program. "From a public relations perspective, it looks like a crushing defeat for Israel."