After media writer Neal Gabler claimed that “Hezbollah won” its recent conflict with Israel because it is providing money and social services to rebuild Lebanon “after the devastation,” nationally syndicated columnist Cal Thomas responded: “Yeah, this is the Middle East version of the New Deal. No wonder you like it so much Neal.” Thomas's comments came during the August 19 edition of Fox News' Fox News Watch.

From the August 19 edition of Fox News' Fox News Watch:

GABLER: Well, I mean, clearly the media story this week has been the tally: Who won? And you're absolutely right, that's all anybody's talking about. And I think there's consensus. You know, Jim said it, too. Hezbollah won. That's -- they're even saying that in Israel. So, this is not an anti-Israel, you know, statement. You don't even meet conservatives in this country who are pro-Israel --

BURNS: And what's the relationship, Neal, between the cease-fire and this consensus? Have we seen so much devastation that was committed by the Israelis that now we have this consensus?

GABLER: No, I -- I don't think it's because of the devastation. I think it's because of what's happening now, after the devastation.

If you read The Washington Post, The New York Times, you watch CNN, you watch Fox, you watch everything, it's Hezbollah coming in there and being the old state of Lebanon. “We're going to take care of everything. We're going to rebuild. We're going to give you houses. We're going to buy you furniture. We're going to give you health care.” That's the issue right now that the media is covering, and there's no way that Israel can break through that.

THOMAS: Yeah, this is the Middle East version of the New Deal. No wonder you like it so much, Neal.

GABLER: I didn't say I like it.

THOMAS: It's not -- welfare for everybody.

GABLER: I didn't say I like it.