Defense Minister Yoav Gallant publicly says that Israel will not be the one to instigate a war in southern Lebanon. It would only respond to attacks. But it is hard not to think that both Hezbollah and the government of Israel are eager, for different reasons, to go to war whether it is latent or fully blown. Pressures are mounting regarding the decision-making and responsibility of PM Netanyahu that would be temporarily deflected if Israel maintained a state of war. The High Court of Israel has just announced that it is granting the government one month to respond to the petition requesting a government commission of inquiry that will assess the events of October 7, 2023.