Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is looking north toward a new frontier, not of conflict, but of peace. On Sunday, he expressed renewed hope for Israel’s relations with its neighbors, stating that the war with Hezbollah has opened a path to this new frontier, with active explorations now underway with Syria and Lebanon.
The most promising territory on this new frontier is Syria. The fall of the Assad regime has removed the biggest obstacle to exploration, allowing for the first direct diplomatic expeditions in decades. A Syrian official has confirmed that the two sides are charting a map toward a final security agreement by the end of 2025.
The Lebanese frontier is more rugged, but a path is being cleared. Israel’s continued military action is like a bulldozer, removing the obstacle of Hezbollah. This is allowing the Lebanese state, with U.S. guidance, to begin building its own road to peace and sovereignty by planning the militia’s disarmament.
Netanyahu acted as the trailblazer for this new exploration. “The possibility of peace with our northern neighbours… was not even imagined before,” he told his cabinet. He confirmed that the initial foray into the Syrian frontier has already shown “some progress.”
The landmarks of this new frontier are becoming visible. A demilitarized buffer zone with Syria is a key feature being surveyed. A sovereign Lebanon, in full control of its southern border, is another landmark on the horizon. For the first time in decades, Israel is exploring a frontier of peace, not war.