- 09:30
In Lebanon, the word “peace” has for too long been confiscated, reduced to an empty slogan or an untouchable taboo, synonymous with “treason.” Yet if our country is to survive, rebuild its economy, and restore hope to its citizens, it can no longer afford to remain trapped in a logic of perpetual war. Peace, including with Israel, must become a national priority.
For decades, Lebanon has lived in the shadow of conflict with Israel. This status quo, fueled by ideological posturing and partisan calculations, has turned our country into a battlefield by proxy. The successive wars, the occupation of the South, and the 2006 conflict have left deep scars. But continuing to reject the very idea of peace condemns Lebanon to instability, fear, dependency—and above all to international isolation, something the Cedar country can no longer afford.
Some will argue that normalization would be capitulation. This statement is false. Making peace is not surrender: it is reclaiming our sovereignty. It means deciding, as a state, no longer to be hostage to regional agendas or to armed militias. Peace restores institutions to their rightful role, grants legitimacy to the national army, and returns to citizens the security they have long been denied.
It is ridiculous—indeed, absurd—to bristle the moment the word "peace" is spoken. Peace is a universal value, shared by all civilizations and at the very heart of humanity. Refusing to embrace it as a national aspiration is nothing less than turning our back on our future. The Arab world itself is evolving, and several countries have chosen the path of normalization. Lebanon cannot remain frozen, certainly not today, out of step with history. The Trump administration presented the Lebanese with a golden opportunity, backed by unprecedented momentum, one it would be almost criminal to waste.
To those who will read this piece and dismiss it “on principle,” let it be clear: peace is not a moral luxury but a vital necessity. The maritime border agreement has already proven it: pragmatic dialogue with Israel can yield tangible economic benefits. Imagining a future of cooperation, instead of endless confrontation, is the first step toward national reconstruction, to the benefit of all parties concerned.
Today, daring to embrace peace is not betrayal; it is an act of faith in a future where Lebanon is no longer defined by war but by its ability to rise again. It is offering the Lebanese the chance to live in a normal country, where the agenda is education, progress, and prosperity—and no longer bombardments, militias, and weapons.
Lebanon has everything to lose by clinging to war and everything to gain by choosing peace. True political courage now lies in breaking the silence, opening the debate, and charting a clear path forward: that of a sovereign, stable, and finally peaceful Lebanon.
Comments