Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is putting his “peace through strength” doctrine to the test, claiming that Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah is the direct cause of new, promising peace talks with Syria and Lebanon. In a statement on Sunday, he positioned the recent war as a strategic success that has created unprecedented diplomatic opportunities with long-standing adversaries.
The fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria has been a game-changer, allowing for the first direct, high-level negotiations between the two countries in decades. The new Syrian government is reportedly eager to finalize security arrangements to stabilize its southern border, with one official projecting a possible agreement by the end of 2025.
In Lebanon, the strategy is to militarily weaken Hezbollah while diplomatically strengthening the official Lebanese state. Israeli strikes continue despite a ceasefire, targeting the Iran-backed group’s infrastructure. This is happening as the U.S. presses Beirut to disarm the militia, a process the Lebanese government has now formally initiated.
“Our victories… have opened a window for… peace with our northern neighbours,” Netanyahu told his cabinet, articulating the core of his doctrine. He confirmed that a dialogue with the Syrians is active and has shown “some progress,” while tempering expectations about the timeline for a final deal.
This doctrine appears to be influencing actions on the other side. Syria’s new president is negotiating terms for an Israeli withdrawal, which hinges on the creation of a demilitarized zone. In a key move, a Syrian military source confirmed that heavy armaments have been removed from the border region. Lebanon’s foreign minister has also announced a concrete, three-month plan to start disarming Hezbollah in the south.