"They come off as 'lily-white' "

Not with me, they don't. Neither side does, and both sides have been taking pot shots at each other across the border (with civilians being killed) for years, since Israel walked out of most of Lebanon last time - the Hezbullah taking that for their excuse for pot shots Israel squatting on some border land, and Israel using the old playground excuse - "but ma, he hit me back first!"