One of the more positive outcomes of the Second Lebanon War that raged between Israel and Hezbollah about seven years ago in 2006 is the peace and quiet that followed it. This was not just a military quiet, in view of the fact that Hezbollah has not fired so much as a single Katyusha rocket, a bullet or even a BB or cap gun. We’re talking about verbal quiet, as well.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, the blustery leader of the Shiite Lebanese organization, has earned himself quite a reputation all over the world for his thunderous speeches, highly detailed threats and promises of a bitter fate for the Jewish state that he spewed at breakneck speed. What evolved in Israel, on the other hand, was a subculture of listening to these bizarre speeches. They were always aired live during prime-time newscasts with simultaneous interpreting by popular experts on Arab affairs such as Ehud Yaari on Channel 2, Zvika Yehezkeli on Channel 10 and Oded Granot on Channel 1.

We all were addicted to Nasrallah’s vitriol, Caesar-like behavior and various odd deaths he wished upon us. His famous “cobweb” speech, in which he compared Israel to a cobweb that would be blown to pieces by the Shiite revolution, was a cult hit in Israel. It became a symbol for the struggle of a democratic, pluralistic and liberal society against radical religious forces. Nasrallah was a common guest in Israel’s collective living room. Then the war broke out.

Since then, it would seem, even Nasrallah has somewhat matured. While continuing to make speeches and use some boastful rhetoric he has nevertheless been making fewer threats and is not as brusque and as cocksure as he used to be.