The Middle East is witnessing a significant geopolitical shake-up, with Israel now in direct peace talks with a post-Assad Syria. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday that this stunning development, along with a potential path to peace with Lebanon, has been made possible by Israel’s recent war against Hezbollah.
For over four decades, the Assad dynasty in Syria represented an implacable foe for Israel. Its collapse has opened the door to diplomacy that was previously impossible. The new government in Damascus has quickly entered into negotiations, with a Syrian official stating that the aim is to finalize security and military pacts with Israel by the end of the year.
This diplomatic track is running parallel to a continued military and political campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Despite a November ceasefire, Israel continues to strike the group’s positions. This military pressure is designed to weaken Hezbollah and encourage the Lebanese state, with U.S. backing, to finally disarm the powerful militia.
Netanyahu’s comments to his cabinet framed these events as part of a coherent strategy. He claimed Israel’s military actions had created an “unimagined” opportunity for peace. On Syria, he confirmed, “We are conducting talks… there is some progress, but it is still a long way off,” a characteristically cautious but optimistic assessment.
In Syria, the new government under Ahmed al-Sharaa is negotiating the return of recently occupied territories in exchange for demilitarization of the border region. In Lebanon, the government has responded to international pressure by ordering its army to draft plans for Hezbollah’s disarmament. Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi stated the process would begin near the Israeli border within three months.