JERUSALEM — No sooner had the Israeli military excavators begun to drill into the rocky ground than the suspicions burst forth. They were not directed so much at Hezbollah, Israel’s archenemy to the north: Few Israelis were completely surprised at their government’s assertion that the group had dug tunnels under the Lebanese border. Instead, the distrust was directed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, who recently assumed the additional role of defense minister, and who is facing increasing legal woes. At the same time, Mr. Netanyahu is trying to preserve his fragile coalition amid accusations that he has not been tough enough in handling the simmering conflict with Gaza to the south. He and his political opponents are now in an election year.

Source: New York Times December 05, 2018 18:52 UTC