As for Lebanon

Lebanon deserved hell for sheltering the PLO. Syria, Jordan and Egypt did not put up with that bullshit - they understood the destabilizing force that Arafat represented and exterminated PLO members with ruthless efficiency. Yet Lebanon allowed them to set up bases, from which they repeatedly attacked Israeli villages over a 10 year period, often murdering entire families in their sleep.

Ever heard of the Coastal Road Massacre?

You can thank Afatrat for dragging Lebanon into 30 years of war. The only thing Israel did wrong is in not pursuing the PLO into Beirut and exterminating them there and then, instead of accepting the exodus to Tunis. This was Sharon's mistake; he should have completed his mission.

The reason for 20 years of Israeli occupation was that the objectives of the Israeli operation were not completed. To this day, there remains a hostile force on Israel's border committed to murdering as many Jews as it can.

Let's hope two years of Ashkenazi's leadership have borne fruit. The next Israeli leader will need a 21st century army that can finish the wars of the 20th century.