Lebanon: Is Peace Possible Without Hezbollah At The Table?

The Lebanon-Israel ceasefire, while temporarily halting hostilities, is built on fragile foundations that ignore the reality of Hezbollah’s deep roots in Lebanese society. According to research scholar Mohammed Amarul Asraf Othman, the truce was not a diplomatic victory for Israel but a result of external pressure—specifically from Iran’s intransigence on nuclear talks, European outrage over the April 8 massacre in Beirut, and direct intervention by former U.S. President Trump. Crucially, Hezbollah was excluded from negotiations despite being a de facto governing force in southern Lebanon, providing essential services and maintaining popular support. The guest argues that any lasting peace must include Hezbollah, not as a proxy, but as a legitimate political and social actor. Israel’s continued military presence in southern Lebanon—referred to as a 'yellow line' buffer zone—mirrors its strategy in Gaza and risks fueling a new generation of resistance. Regional dynamics are equally fractured: while Iran and some Muslim-majority nations like Malaysia and Turkey have pushed for peace, Gulf states operate behind the scenes with financial influence, and Syria’s cooperation with Israel raises troubling questions about the future of Arab unity. Without addressing Hezbollah’s role and the structural failures of the Lebanese state, the ceasefire is not a step toward peace but a pause before renewed conflict.