My memory of the Lebanese War a few years ago is that the Saudis were encouraging Israel to go all the way into the Bekaa Valley, to keep going until they had destroyed Hezbollah.
The Israelis, under Olmert, only pushed into Southern Lebanon. But it was one of the surprises of the war to see the Saudis giving Israel the green light to go go go. But understandable, since Hezbollah is Iran’s catspaw, and Iran is the country the Saudis fear most.
It just showed that the middle east is a bit more complicated than most people notice.
Don’t forget Olmert was Israel’s hairless Kenyan-—he left Israel in tougher shape because he didn’t finish anything.