Turning a Corner: Has Israel’s Northern Border Reached a Historic Juncture?

Israel’s northern border may be turning a corner, leaving behind a long, dark road of conflict for a new path toward peace. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested on Sunday that a historic juncture has been reached, with the war against Hezbollah having created the momentum for peace talks with Syria and a potential settlement with Lebanon.
The turn toward peace is sharpest with Syria. After decades of heading in the direction of confrontation under the Assad regime, the new government has made a 180-degree turn toward direct negotiations with Israel. A Syrian official has stated they are now speeding toward a final security agreement by the end of the year.
In Lebanon, the turn is slower and more difficult, like a large ship changing course. However, under pressure from Israel’s military and U.S. diplomacy, the Lebanese government has begun to turn the wheel, ordering its army to plan the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Netanyahu acted as the navigator for this new course. “The possibility of peace… was not even imagined before,” he told his cabinet, indicating the significance of this turning point. He confirmed that the new path with Syria is already showing “some progress.”
If this turn is completed, the destination could be a transformed region. A demilitarized zone with Syria and a Lebanon free from militia rule are the landmarks on this new road. The historic juncture Netanyahu described could lead to a very different future.