Israel is busy with elections - and Iran could receive a huge gift | Michael Harari

Michael Harari warns that freezing Israeli-Lebanese negotiations during the election period does not serve Israeli interests, and proposes exploiting Hezbollah's weakness to advance diplomatic steps with Lebanon, including border supervision, tightening maritime control, and economic measures, while discussing alternative communication channels with Iran.

In his article, Michael Harari argues that freezing Israeli-Lebanese negotiations during Israel's election period does not serve Israeli interests. According to him, despite the understandable political circumstances, it is important to continue dialogue at professional levels, especially given the Lebanese government's desire to proceed. Harari notes that no one expects breakthroughs under current conditions, but it is possible and necessary to discuss a series of steps, even if some are implemented only later. He emphasizes Hezbollah's current weakness, against the backdrop of reports in the Arab press about the organization's military weakening and declining political influence, alongside growing dependence on Iran. Harari proposes on-the-ground Lebanese steps that would help achieve the strategic goal of disarming Hezbollah: tighter supervision and closure of the border with Syria to prevent smuggling, tightening government control over the maritime domain, and economic measures that would reduce the organization's weight. He calls for encouraging these steps and providing them with compensation from Israel, even during an election period. Harari raises three substantive issues for discussion: first, examining the direct Lebanese-Iranian channel as an alternative to the mediation of Nabih Berri; second, integrating additional players in Lebanon such as Walid Jumblatt; and third, negotiating a Lebanese-Syrian economic water border agreement. The article concludes with a warning that Israel's political timeline may drag on, and the world is not standing still.