Lebanon’s Crossroads: Going for a Third Choice- From Standoff to Engagement

Lebanon stands at a perilous crossroads. Two entrenched positions—each armed with legitimate grievances—continue to clash, while the country itself teeters under the weight of failed policies, foreign aggression, and internal paralysis. If Lebanon is to survive and thrive, both camps must loosen their grip on absolutism and begin engaging with one another constructively to find a third choice.

The Case for Defense

For decades, Lebanon was left defenseless—invaded, plundered, and its citizens killed. Even today, the international community undermines its right to arm itself. Those in power have failed to reassure the people living in the direct line of fire. When the enemy violates truces or launches attacks, the response has been tepid at best—mere words in the face of existential threats.

The Resistance’s Dilemma

The Resistance, for its part, while undeniably inflicting damage on the enemy and halting its advances; it could not prevent the devastation of the South, Beqaa valley, and Beirut. Acting outside the framework of the Lebanese state risks playing directly into the enemy’s hands—justifying another brutal campaign by a regime that lacks both moral compass and legal restraint. The cost of unilateral action will be borne not just by the Resistance and its community, but by Lebanon as a whole.

A Nation Fractured

This is not a binary issue. Lebanon cannot afford to fracture itself with endless, intransigent debate over arms at a time when there is a regional genocide occurring. Nor should it fall into the trap of having to choose between either disarmament by force through a foreign war or one that leads to a civil war. Instead, it must find a third way to unite—huddle, think, plan, and then act assertively. The question at hand is not merely tactical; it is existential. Who do we want to be as a nation? How do we protect ourselves in times of crisis without losing our soul? And how do we solve complex differences through the understanding and respect of all citizens and their legitimate concerns.

Five Proposed Steps to Break the Deadlock

Here are five actionable steps that could help Lebanon move forward:

1. Reframe the Arms Debate
   This should not be about “disarming” but about “transferring” heavy weaponry to the Lebanese Army. Lebanon is barred from purchasing arms, and the army needs them. Small arms—like in the U.S. and Israel—should remain a domestic matter. Given what disarmed populations face in the West Bank, Southerners have every reason to be cautious.
   
   
2. Integrate the Resistance
   The Resistance’s military discipline and intelligence capabilities are invaluable. Rather than dismantling it, Lebanon should incorporate key elements into a new unit—perhaps the Lebanese Defense Forces (LDF)—under the national army’s command.
   
   
3. Engage the Real Power Broker
   Israel may have pulled the trigger, but the U.S. supplied the weaponry. Lebanon should engage directly with Washington. A bold diplomatic package—tariff-free trade, gas exploration rights, infrastructure partnerships, even a U.S. base in the South—could be exchanged for Israeli withdrawal, military support, and reconstruction aid. A symbolic gesture, like offering Trump the Holiday Inn to transform into a Trump Hotel, might sweeten the deal.
   
   
4. Leverage Legal and Diplomatic Channels
   With a former ICJ judge as Prime Minister, Lebanon should build a legal case against Israeli occupation and pursue it at the International Court of Justice. Simultaneously, a diplomatic tour across Europe and the UN should advocate for reparations, elevate the UN’s role in Lebanon, and facilitate the safe return of Syrian refugees—followed by a comprehensive environmental recovery plan.
   
   
5. Rebuild to Reconnect
   The Lebanese state must commit to rebuilding every city and village destroyed by Israeli aggression. This is not just about infrastructure—it’s about restoring trust and permanently binding these communities to the state.

Lebanon’s future depends on its ability to transcend entrenched narratives and forge a unified path forward. The stakes are too high for division. It's time for a third choice that circumvents standoff and instead offers national reconciliation, attending to the grievances of all citizens. It's time to think boldly, act strategically, and reclaim our sovereignty with wisdom and resolve. It's time to have a single vision for the country that all Lebanese can agree on.