A new Middle East begins on the Israel-Lebanon border

But today, for the first time in many years, a real chance has emerged to change this reality.

It is precisely this combination of political leadership and professional diplomacy that has created a window of opportunity that did not exist until very recently.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his consistent and uncompromising support of the State of Israel. Israelis will never forget those who, at a decisive moment, stood on the side of security, justice, and our people's right to live without a constant threat of terrorism.

But the significance of these decisions extends far beyond Israel.

They also open new hope for the people of Lebanon.

For many years, a beautiful country once called the pearl of the Mediterranean and one of the cultural centers of the Middle East gradually became a hostage of the terrorist organization Hezbollah. A state with enormous human potential found itself deprived of the ability to determine its own future. Economic crisis, mass emigration, destroyed infrastructure, and political paralysis were the consequences of an armed terrorist organization effectively subordinating a significant part of the state system and turning Lebanon into an instrument for advancing someone else's geopolitical interests.

Today Lebanon has a chance to build its own future.

Particular respect is due to the political wisdom and personal courage of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Despite enormous pressure and real threats from extremist forces, he is making decisions based on the interests of his people. This requires genuine statesmanship and historical responsibility.

For the first time in decades, Israel and Lebanon have the opportunity to speak not only of a ceasefire, but of a gradual transition to a new model of relations — one based on mutual security, respect for state sovereignty, and direct dialogue with the active mediation of the United States.

This path will undoubtedly be long and difficult.

Disarming Hezbollah, restoring the full sovereignty of the Lebanese state, strengthening the national army, and freeing the country from destructive external influence will require time, political will, and broad international support. No one should harbor illusions: serious trials lie ahead. Terrorist forces will resist, and those who for years used Lebanon as an instrument of regional confrontation will try to derail this process.

But the difficulty of the path has never been a reason to abandon moving forward.

Today the interests of Israel and Lebanon's legitimate leadership converge as never before. Israel has no interest in war with Lebanon. Israel is interested in the existence of a strong, independent, prosperous Lebanese state, free from the power of terrorist organizations and external dictates. Such a Lebanon would be able to guarantee the security of its own citizens, serve as a reliable neighbor to Israel, and become an important partner in the development of the entire region.

We must also acknowledge that President Donald Trump's Middle East policy is already producing real results. He has managed to halt the most dangerous hot phases of regional confrontation and create conditions for diplomacy. Today an opportunity is opening not only to consolidate these gains but to expand the Abraham Accords, achieve a long-term settlement between Israel and Lebanon, strengthen the position of moderate forces in the region, and open a new era of trade, economic, scientific, and cultural cooperation.

For many years, peace between Israel and Arab states seemed impossible. Yet the Abraham Accords proved that even the deepest conflicts can give way to cooperation when leaders possess the political will and the ability to look beyond the present day.

A new process is beginning today. Perhaps this is the very moment when a new Middle East is being born — one in which security becomes stronger than terror, cooperation stronger than hatred, and hope stronger than fear.

This historic chance did not arise by accident. It became possible thanks to the courage of Israeli soldiers and officers, the high professionalism of the Israel Defense Forces, and their ability to fight against terrorist infrastructure while striving to minimize harm to civilians not involved in terrorist activity. It was precisely this combination of military effectiveness and high moral responsibility that created a new strategic reality — one in which diplomacy has once again been given a chance to succeed.

Today more and more citizens of Lebanon recognize that the main cause of their country's tragedy was not confrontation with Israel, but Lebanon's transformation into a hostage of Hezbollah and outside interference, which deprived the country of full sovereignty and prospects for development. This recognition creates the foundation for national renewal and for Lebanon's return to the place it historically occupied as one of the most dynamic and open states in the Middle East.

Many serious trials still lie ahead. But I am convinced that the main obstacles can be overcome. Israel and Lebanon are capable of moving from forced coexistence to good-neighborliness based on mutual respect, security, economic partnership, scientific cooperation, and cultural exchange. Not only our peoples but the entire Middle East stand to benefit.

History very rarely gives nations the chance to change their future. The responsibility of the current generation of leaders is not to let this chance slip away.

Because real peace does not begin at the moment agreements are signed. It begins when terror is defeated, trust is restored, and people find within themselves the courage to build a future.

The future begins where the rule of terror ends.