The initial agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon after US-mediated talks should not be seen only as a Lebanese-Israeli file. It is also a message. A message to Hezbollah, a message to Iran, and perhaps also a message to those who believed that Israel had been pushed to the margins after the US-Iran understanding.

The first message goes to Hezbollah. For years, Hezbollah has attempted to portray itself as the unavoidable actor in Lebanon. Without its permission, there could be no war, peace, border agreement, or political stability. This agreement challenges that logic. It emphasizes something simple but significant: Lebanon can still speak as a state, not just as a territory controlled by an armed force.

This is why Hezbollah’s rejection was immediate. The movement understands the danger. The military risk is one thing. The political risk is deeper. If the Lebanese army is placed back at the center of the southern border and if disarmament becomes part of the diplomatic vocabulary, then........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)