In an ideal world, normalization with Israel would obviously be welcome. What reasonably constituted country would reject a treaty that ensures peace along its borders? After years of wars in which Israel has at times played a background role and at other times been directly involved, should Lebanon, on principle, turn away from a reconciliation that could allow it to live and prosper in peace? That would be a move to condemn itself to endless insecurity.The problem is that peace treaties, to be fair and lasting, usually come after a certain balance is reached. And clearly, the scales are tipped, just not in our favor.We’ve seen what Israel is capable of. In Gaza, it is relentlessly pursuing a war of occupation without even bothering to justify it anymore. In Lebanon, Hezbollah has handed it a golden pretext to gain new positions, ones...
In an ideal world, normalization with Israel would obviously be welcome. What reasonably constituted country would reject a treaty that ensures peace along its borders? After years of wars in which Israel has at times played a background role and at other times been directly involved, should Lebanon, on principle, turn away from a reconciliation that could allow it to live and prosper in peace? That would be a move to condemn itself to endless insecurity.The problem is that peace treaties, to be fair and lasting, usually come after a certain balance is reached. And clearly, the scales are tipped, just not in our favor.We’ve seen what Israel is capable of. In Gaza, it is relentlessly pursuing a war of occupation without even bothering to justify it anymore. In Lebanon, Hezbollah has handed it a golden pretext to gain new positions,...
