A rare chance for peace between Israel and Lebanon must not be missed - opinion

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's upcoming visit to the White House marks a significant diplomatic engagement, representing a rare chance to question the long-standing possibility of peace between Lebanon and Israel. The authors, an Israeli former senior officer in the Israel Defense Forces and a Lebanese citizen, frame this moment as a critical juncture for building a new future across their shared border, which has historically been defined by fear and conflict.

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can Lebanon and Israel finally begin building a different future?

Avital, an Israeli former senior officer and daughter of a Holocaust survivor, has lived under the threat of Hezbollah attacks and understands the necessity of security. Ahmed, a Lebanese citizen, grew up under what he describes as a "hijacked state," where the country's potential has been stifled by an armed terror organization operating outside the law. Both share a hope for a different future, despite their distinct experiences.

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It represents a rare opportunity to ask a question that has seemed impossible for generations

The article highlights how Lebanon has been drawn into two devastating wars since October 7, 2023, initiated by Hezbollah. The first, on October 8, 2023, was a "support front" for Hamas' war in Gaza. The second began in March 2026, purportedly in retaliation for Ali Khamenei's assassination. The authors contend that these conflicts served no Lebanese interests, occurring while the nation grappled with social divisions and economic hardship. They point to these events as evidence of Hezbollah's direction, funding, and guidance by Iran, inevitably leading to war in Lebanon.

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We write this from opposite sides of a border that has too often been defined by fear, conflict, and missed opportunities. Our experiences are different, but our hope is shared.

From a Lebanese perspective, the authors find it irrational to endure this "never-ending cycle" of conflict, tracing it from the PLO to Hezbollah. They call for a clear stance to end this pattern and build a nation where aspirations for a better future are not undermined by a terror organization's foreign affiliations and associated state interests. The piece concludes by stating that Lebanon stands at a historic crossroads: either the Lebanese people and their government reclaim state institutions and the monopoly on force, or the nation risks permanent dissolution. True independence, they argue, requires the courage to shape foreign policy based on Lebanese national interests, which includes ending Iran's hegemony and securing peace along the southern border.

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It is time to take a clear stance to put an end to this cycle and build a nation where dreaming about a better future should not clash with a terror organization’s foreign affiliations and the interests of the countries it’s associated with.