A major diplomatic reshuffle is underway on Israel’s northern border, with new players and new possibilities emerging from the deck. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday that the war with Hezbollah has effectively reshuffled the cards, dealing Israel a new hand that includes peace talks with Syria and a better chance of a favorable outcome with Lebanon.
The most significant new card in the game is the post-Assad government in Syria. This new player has changed the entire dynamic, sitting down at the table with Israel for direct negotiations. A Syrian official has stated that they are playing to win a final security deal by the end of the year.
In Lebanon, the reshuffle has weakened the hand of Hezbollah, long the most powerful card in the Lebanese deck. This has strengthened the position of the official government, which is now, with U.S. encouragement, playing its own cards by moving to disarm the militia.
Netanyahu revealed his assessment of the new hand. “Our victories… have opened a window for a possibility that was not even imagined before,” he said. He confirmed that playing these new cards has already resulted in “some progress” in the game with Syria.
The outcome of this reshuffle is beginning to take shape. The negotiation of a demilitarized zone with Syria is a potential jackpot for Israeli security. Lebanon’s plan to disarm Hezbollah would be another major win. In this new game, Israel is holding a much stronger hand.o