At the end of an inconclusive military confrontation both contenders usually claim victory. Last summer’s conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is no exception. Hezbollah celebrated its ability to contain IDF forces, inflict casualties and continue to rain rockets on Israel. Similarly, Israel’s government expressed satisfaction for its military and political achievements, though Israel’s Prime minister, Ehud Olmert, was cautious not to sound triumphant. This caution reflected a feeling, which grew over the following months, that Israel suffered some sort of strategic defeat. Domestically, a large sway of public opinion did not view the war in the North as a victory. Regionally, many Arab regimes and other non-state actors shared this assessment. Regardless, Hezbollah suffered a substantial military setback, while Israel achieved major strategic gains...