While world powers talk big over who “won” the ceasefire following Israel’s incursion into Hezbollah-controlled southern Lebanon, the scales of victory may be seen to be tipped by actions
of tiny countries like Costa Rica.

The president of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, announced on Wednesday that his country would transfer its embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.

“It is time to amend an historic mistake which harms our country in the international arena and prevents us from maintaining friendly ties with the Arab world and the culture of Islam,” Arias, a former Nobel Peace Prize winner, said.

Question: Had Israel “won” by destroying Hezbollah militarily, would Costa Rica have, in effect, jumped ship? With Hezbollah eliminated, would Costa Rica have suddenly felt it urgently necessary, almost a quarter century after its embassy opened in the Israeli capital, to “amend” its “historic mistake”?

Since 1982, Costa Rica has maintained its embassy in the capital of Israel, where the Embassy of El Salvador is also located. All other embassies are in Tel Aviv.

Why?

I don’t think there’s any other possible reason besides the fact that the Arab-Islamic world, which mainly doesn’t recognize Israel, wants it that way. In 1995, the US Congress voted to relocate the US embassy to Jerusalem, but since then, like clockwork, the US president has signed a waiver every six months to “postpone” the move due to “security concerns.” In June, George W. Bush, who actually promised to move the embassy during his 2000 presidential campaign, signed his 10th such waiver.

I would call this a sign of dhimmitude driven by the threat of violence (jihad).

More tea leaves

Another seemingly small action that reflects the reality of Hezbollah’s enhanced power in Lebanon is the Lebanese government’s decision to arrest a Lebanese general, whose outpost near the Israeli border was captured by the IDF. His crime?

He appeared on video having tea with Israeli forces.

The Associated Press explains:

“They came peacefully up to our gate, asking to speak with me by name,” Lebanese Interior Ministry Brig. Gen. Adnan Daoud said. He said the Israeli ranking officer was very polite.

The Israelis videotaped Daoud sipping tea with smiling Israeli soldiers and then put it on television. It was later broadcast on Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television and the interior ministry ordered Daoud arrested. Lebanon does not recognize Israel and forbids its citizens any contact with Israelis.

Al-Manar is Hezbollah TV.

And BTW, Lebanon not only forbids such contact, it punishes it. In another report on the Lebanese general facing charges of Illegal Tea Time, Haarezt elaborates:

In 2000, after Israel withdrew its army from southern Lebanon, those who worked for Israel were arrested tried and given jail terms ranging from a few months to several years. Those civilians who fled to Israel and later returned were also arrested and given prison terms.

Lebanon refuses entry to any foreigner who has an Israeli entry
or exit stamp on his passport.

Kind of takes the bloom off the cedars.