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Who said that there could not have been proper planning? And we´re talking of a stripe with a distance of only up to 65 miles from Israel´s northern border. It could have been an option.

The decision to invade another country with a massive ground assault is not one that is or should be made lightly. You have to remember that three soldiers were kidnapped by terrorists in a short period - two by Hezbollah in the North (Hezbollah also shot some missiles into Israel as a diversion while it kidnapped the two soldiers), and one by Hamas earlier in Gaza. The Hezbollah kidnapping was the first of its kind on Israel's northern border, and a tank was blown up by Hezbollah as it was chasing after the bad guys in Lebanon to get back the kidnapped soldiers. 5 Israeli soldiers died. The bad guys got away. I also wouldn't be surprised if the bulk of the IDF forces were in and around Gaza when the kidnapping occurred.

At that point, the IDF decided to back the ground troops off and start the air campaign, which should soften targets in South Lebanon and isolate Hezbollah cells, should a ground campaign be deemed necessary. Reservists are being called up, in part to bulk up the ground forces.

Israel doesn't live in a very friendly neighborhood. It can't afford to commit all of its ground troops into Lebanon only to be attacked by Syria via the Golan Heights, Hamas in Gaza or the West Bank, or another Arab neighbor in a sneak raid. Israel can't afford to hastily send troops deep into Lebanon, only to have its logistic train attacked from the rear by Syria or Hezbollah.