The Phoenix Moment: Can Peace Rise from the Ashes of War in the North?

In what could be a “phoenix moment” for the Middle East, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that a lasting peace could rise from the ashes of Israel’s war with Hezbollah. He announced on Sunday that the conflict has created the conditions for peace talks with Syria and a potential agreement with Lebanon.
The most hopeful sign of this rebirth is the direct negotiations between Israel and Syria. The end of the Assad regime, which fanned the flames of conflict for decades, has allowed for a new beginning. A Syrian official has expressed optimism that security and military agreements could be finalized by the end of 2025.
In Lebanon, the ashes are still smoldering. Israel continues to strike Hezbollah targets despite a ceasefire. Yet, from this instability, the Lebanese state is attempting to rise, taking its first concrete steps to disarm the militia that has long challenged its sovereignty.
Netanyahu explicitly framed the situation as a rebirth. “Our victories… have opened a window for a possibility that was not even imagined before,” he said, suggesting peace is the phoenix rising from the conflict. He confirmed “some progress” in the nascent talks with Syria.
This potential transformation from war to peace is being supported by concrete actions. Syria is negotiating a demilitarized zone. Lebanon is planning to disarm Hezbollah. These could be the first signs of a new, more peaceful era rising from the ashes of the old.