Sounds of silence

Middle East | Rocket launches and bombings have given way to Ramadan and New Year’s feasting in Lebanon and Israel—but Hezbollah is far from finished | Jill Nelson

In Israel, the shrill summer sound of Katyusha rockets has been replaced by the blasts of the shofar horn, signaling the start of the Jewish New Year and the subsequent Ten Days of Repentance. In Lebanon hostile fire is gone, and the streets and alleys are full of vendors peddling dates, sweets, and nuts as the Muslim population begins the holy month of Ramadan.

And just in time for the festivities, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has reemerged as an iconic hero. A Sept. 22 rally in Beirut drew hundreds of thousands of supporters as a fiery Nasrallah—in his first public appearance since the war began—proclaimed a "divine and historic victory" over Israel and touted his resolve to remain armed, despite a UN resolution against it.