Israel is shifting its long-standing northern border strategy from one of containment to one of active resolution. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced this pivot on Sunday, arguing that while the war contained the immediate threat from Hezbollah, it also created the conditions to permanently resolve the underlying conflicts with Syria and Lebanon.
The push for resolution is most advanced with Syria. The old strategy was to contain the Assad regime’s hostility. The new strategy, enabled by the regime’s collapse, is to resolve the 77-year state of war through a negotiated peace treaty. A Syrian official has confirmed that talks to finalize such a resolution are underway.
In Lebanon, the policy is shifting from containing Hezbollah to resolving the problem of a non-state army on its border. Israel’s continued military strikes are part of this, but the ultimate resolution lies with the Lebanese state, which has now begun the process of disarming the militia.
Netanyahu explained this strategic evolution to his ministers. “The possibility of peace… was not even imagined before,” he said, suggesting that the focus has shifted from managing conflict to ending it. He confirmed “some progress” toward a final resolution with Syria.
This new approach is yielding concrete steps toward conflict resolution. The negotiation of a demilitarized zone with Syria is a classic resolution mechanism. Lebanon’s plan to disarm Hezbollah would resolve the core issue that has fueled instability for decades. Israel is no longer just containing threats; it is trying to eliminate them.