Israel is beginning to collect a “diplomatic dividend” from its recent war with Hezbollah, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On Sunday, he announced that the military campaign has yielded unexpected returns in the form of peace talks with Syria and a new opening for an agreement with Lebanon.
The most significant payout is the direct negotiations with Syria. The collapse of the Assad regime, a key Hezbollah supporter, created a political vacuum that the new government is filling with pragmatic diplomacy. A Syrian official has stated that they hope to finalize security deals with Israel by the end of the year.
In Lebanon, the dividend is the government’s newfound willingness to confront Hezbollah. While Israel continues to apply military pressure on the group, the Lebanese state is finally moving to disarm the militia, a long-term strategic goal for Israel and the United States.
Netanyahu explained this concept of a dividend to his ministers. “Our victories in Lebanon against Hezbollah have opened a window for… peace,” he stated, framing the war as a successful investment. He confirmed that this investment is already yielding “some progress” in talks with Syria.
The returns are becoming concrete. Syria’s new president is negotiating a demilitarized zone, a key security asset for Israel. Lebanon has committed to a plan to disarm Hezbollah in the south within three months. These are tangible diplomatic gains that Israel is cashing in on.