Israel is actively working to change the entire conversation on its northern border, shifting the long-standing dialogue of conflict to a new one of peace. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led this change on Sunday, announcing that the war with Hezbollah has created a new vocabulary of possibility, leading to direct peace talks with Syria.
For decades, the language of the Israeli-Syrian relationship was one of threats, deterrence, and a state of war. The fall of the Assad regime has allowed for a new conversation to begin, one focused on security, demilitarization, and coexistence. A Syrian official has confirmed that this new dialogue aims for a final agreement by the end of 2025.
In Lebanon, the old conversation was dominated by Hezbollah’s “resistance” narrative. Israel’s strategy is to change the topic to one of state sovereignty and responsibility. The Lebanese government has joined this new conversation by announcing its plan to disarm the militia.
Netanyahu introduced the new talking points to his ministers. “Our victories… have opened a window,” he said, framing the war as the event that made this new conversation possible. He confirmed that the new dialogue with Syria is already showing “some progress.”
The substance of this new conversation is about concrete solutions. The discussion of a demilitarized zone with Syria and the plan to disarm Hezbollah in Lebanon are the key topics. By changing the conversation, Israel hopes to change the reality of its northern border.