TEL AVIV — The appointment this week of Naim Qassem as Hezbollah’s leader elicited a short statement by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant: "The appointment is temporary. The countdown has begun." 

In Qassem's maiden speech on Thursday, he referred to the Oct. 19 explosive drone that Hezbollah had used to attack the home of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, causing limited damage but no casualties. "He survived the drone, but his time will come . . . It is possible that an Israeli will kill him, or he will die during one of his speeches," Qassem said. 

Given Israel’s record of killing its enemies, including Qassem’s predecessors Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Saffeidine, Gallant's threat appears the more relevant of the two. Judging by Qassem's warning to Netanyahu, he clearly knows this but has yet to translate it into acceptance of Israel’s terms for a cease-fire with the group he now heads. 

Significant progress has been reported in negotiations in recent days, but only between US envoy Amos Hochstein, Israeli officials and members of Najib Mikati's caretaker Lebanese government. The main protagonist in this ongoing drama, Hezbollah, has not made its position clear, other than escalating rocket fire against Israel. Thursday marked the deadliest day for Israel in months, with three Israeli civilians and four migrant workers killed in Hezbollah attacks. That same day, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported that six paramedics had been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon.