Lebanon’s greatest strength is its unity

Lebanon stands at a pivotal moment in its modern history. The indirect talks with Israel are not simply another diplomatic exercise or an attempt to contain tensions along the southern border. They represent an opportunity to spare the country another devastating conflict and to begin shifting the national conversation from war and confrontation to recovery and reconstruction.
Whether these negotiations ultimately lead to a long-term arrangement or merely reduce the likelihood of another military escalation, one fact remains undeniable: no agreement will serve Lebanon unless it is firmly rooted in the country’s national interest and is supported by a united Lebanese front.
For far too long, Lebanon has paid the price for regional conflicts that have repeatedly left its people bearing the heaviest burden. Entire villages have been reduced to rubble, thousands of families have been displaced and vital infrastructure has been destroyed time and again. At the same time, the country has endured one of the worst economic crises in its history, with its currency collapsing, its institutions weakening and its brightest young minds leaving in search of opportunities abroad.
After years of hardship, the overwhelming majority of Lebanese, regardless of their political affiliation, share one common aspiration: to live in a country that enjoys stability, security and the chance to rebuild. Another war would not solve Lebanon’s problems, it would deepen them.
This is why the current negotiations deserve to be viewed through the lens of national interest rather than political ideology. The objective should not be to determine who can claim political victory but rather how Lebanon can emerge stronger, more secure and better positioned to focus on rebuilding its economy and restoring confidence in its institutions. If diplomacy can reduce the threat of war, encourage investment, allow displaced communities to return to their homes and enable the government to concentrate on economic recovery instead of crisis management, then every Lebanese citizen stands to benefit. Stability is not a concession to any party — it is an investment in Lebanon’s future.
However, diplomacy alone is not enough. Successful negotiations require a country that speaks with one voice. Lebanon has often approached critical national issues while burdened by internal divisions, competing political agendas and conflicting messages to the outside world. Such fragmentation weakens the country’s negotiating position before discussions even begin. A divided nation inevitably finds its leverage diminished, while a united nation negotiates with confidence and credibility. At this critical juncture, Lebanon’s greatest source of strength is not military capability or political rhetoric, it is the ability of its people and institutions to unite behind a single national objective.
Yet national unity cannot simply be demanded from the public. It must be earned by those entrusted with leading the negotiations. Lebanese citizens have every right to seek reassurance about the direction of these talks. Decades of conflict have understandably left many people cautious, even skeptical, about any engagement with Israel. Those concerns should neither be dismissed nor portrayed as obstacles to diplomacy. On the contrary, they reflect a genuine desire to ensure that Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity remain fully protected. Building public confidence therefore becomes one of the government’s most important responsibilities.
This requires transparency, honest communication and an unwavering commitment to the national interest. The government must clearly explain the objectives of the negotiations and assure the Lebanese people that no agreement will involve concessions affecting the country’s sovereign rights, security or territorial integrity. The public deserves to know that every proposal will be evaluated according to one standard alone: whether it serves Lebanon’s long-term interests.
Such assurances are not merely political necessities — they are essential for creating the trust upon which national unity depends. When citizens believe that their leaders are negotiating from a position of principle rather than pressure, they are far more likely to stand behind the state.
Lebanon’s political diversity should not become an obstacle to that unity. The country has always been home to different political movements, religious communities and competing visions of its future. These differences are part of Lebanon’s democratic fabric and will continue to shape its political life. Yet there are moments in every nation’s history when partisan loyalties must give way to the larger national interest. This is one of those moments.
Whether one supports Hezbollah, opposes it or belongs to any other political current, every Lebanese has a shared stake in preserving the country’s security, protecting its sovereignty and creating the conditions that allow future generations to live in peace and prosperity.

A divided nation inevitably finds its leverage diminished, while a united nation negotiates with confidence and credibility.

Hani Hazaimeh

Supporting the government’s negotiating efforts should therefore not be interpreted as abandoning deeply held political principles or forgetting the painful chapters of Lebanon’s history. Rather, it should be understood as an affirmation that the Lebanese state must remain the ultimate guardian of the nation’s interests.
At the same time, support for the negotiations should never mean granting the government a blank check. Citizens have every right — and indeed the duty — to demand accountability, transparency and regular communication throughout the process. Genuine national unity is built not on blind trust but on confidence that those entrusted with representing the country will neither compromise its sovereignty nor sacrifice its dignity under external pressure.
Lebanon has endured enough conflict, enough political paralysis and enough missed opportunities. It deserves a future in which its people are no longer consumed by the fear of another war but are instead focused on rebuilding their economy, educating their children, attracting investment and restoring the country’s historic role as a center of culture, commerce and dialogue in the region.

• Hani Hazaimeh is a senior editor based in Amman. X: @hanihazaimeh