Israeli Journalist: Lebanon Deal Is A Major Win For Israel

Senior journalist Ariel Kahana said the Lebanon deal includes unprecedented diplomatic achievements for Israel.

According to Kahana, the agreement gives Israel something past peace deals did not: security flexibility on neighboring territory until the threat is removed.

The Tanakh says, “The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.” That balance between strength and peace sits at the center of the Lebanon deal.

A Different Lebanon Deal

Kahana argued that, for the first time, one of Israel’s neighbors has agreed to let Israeli forces remain on its territory to block terror threats.

That matters to Israel, Lebanon, and the United States at the same time. Israel gains stronger protection for northern communities. Lebanon gains help against Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia that has dragged its people into war. Meanwhile, Washington advances a regional order built around sovereignty, stability, and the defeat of terror networks.

That point also connects to Lebanon’s own political turning point. In “A New Chapter for Lebanon: Joseph Aoun Elected President,” Aoun declared, “Today marks a new era in Lebanon’s history,” after parliament chose the former Lebanese Army chief following two years of paralysis and 13 failed election attempts.

The former peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan followed a different model. Israel handed over captured territory, including Sinai in the agreement with Egypt, in exchange for formal peace and security arrangements.

By contrast, Kahana said the Lebanon deal works differently. It ties Israeli withdrawal to the removal of the threat.

UNIFIL And The Security Gap

Kahana also argued that UNIFIL no longer functions as a meaningful obstacle.

The UN created UNIFIL to help restore peace and security in southern Lebanon and support Lebanese government authority. However, many believe the force failed to stop Hezbollah from turning the area into a terror front.

For nearly 50 years, Israel faced threats from Lebanon, first from the PLO and later from Hezbollah.

As a result, Israeli and Lebanese civilians both paid the price. Hezbollah embedded itself in civilian areas, while international formulas failed to remove the threat.

Therefore, reducing UNIFIL’s role could serve both peoples. It gives the Lebanese state more responsibility to act against terror, and it gives Israel greater freedom to act against terror.

Rubio, Vance And Israel

Kahana’s most important point involved Washington.

He said Israel managed to bypass Vice President JD Vance through Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to Kahana, Rubio helped secure a diplomatic agreement that pushed aside Vance’s influence and the deal he had crafted.

That difference has become central to how many Israelis view the agreement.

Vance represents a more restrained approach that many pro-Israel voices view as risky. Rubio, by contrast, has built a reputation as a strong supporter of Israel and a hardliner against Iran.

That point also connects directly to “Good News For Israel: Rubio Rises In 2028 Betting Markets.” The article noted that Rubio’s rise drew attention in Israel because of his pro-Israel record and hard line on Iran.

Covenant And Security

The United States and Israel also share a covenantal understanding before God. Both nations, at their best, see liberty as a moral calling, not only a political system.

That shared belief includes faith in divine promise, the dignity of human life, and the duty to stand against terror regimes that threaten the innocent.

For Israel, that duty begins with the defense of Jewish life in the land promised to the Jewish people. For America, it means using strength to protect freedom, confront tyranny, and stand with allies who refuse to surrender to evil.

When U.S. policy strengthens Israel against Iranian terror proxies, that shared covenantal language becomes action.

Ultimately, Kahana sees the Lebanon deal as more than a tactical arrangement. It marks a diplomatic gain, a security gain, and a test of whether the free world will let terror armies hide behind failed international formulas.

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