Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed a direct link between Israel’s “victories” against Hezbollah and the emergence of new peace talks with Syria and Lebanon. In a Sunday address to his cabinet, he argued that military strength has been the key to unlocking diplomatic possibilities that were previously unthinkable with his country’s northern neighbors.
For the first time since its founding, Israel is in direct, productive peace talks with Syria. The catalyst for this change was the ouster of long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad. Syria’s new leadership is moving quickly, with one official suggesting that comprehensive security and military agreements could be signed before the year is over.
In Lebanon, the strategy is to continue weakening Hezbollah through military strikes, despite a November ceasefire, while encouraging the official Lebanese state to take control. The United States has been a key player in this, pressing Beirut to disarm the militia, which has acted as a state-within-a-state for decades.
“The possibility of peace with our northern neighbours… was not even imagined before our recent operations and actions,” Netanyahu stated, leaving no doubt as to what he believes created the current diplomatic opening. He confirmed that talks with Syria are making headway, though he cautioned the process would not be quick.
The new Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has acknowledged that his government is negotiating a deal that would see Israeli forces leave recently occupied areas in return for a demilitarized border. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s foreign minister has announced that the army will begin disarming Hezbollah in the south within three months, a significant step towards meeting a key Israeli and international demand.
