For many across the Middle East, the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire came as a relief: the first major sign of progress in the region since war began more than a year ago.

"Gaza will never be a threat to the state of Israel again...We will reach a decisive victory there. Lebanon is different," said Israel's Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, a member of the inner security cabinet and a former head of the Shin Bet intelligence agency.