Peace with Lebanon cannot come until Hezbollah is disarmed, diplomatically or otherwise- editorial

Two Israeli reservists, Maj. (res.) Harel Birenstock and Master Sgt. (res.) Tamir Vaknin, were killed in southern Lebanon on Wednesday when an explosive device detonated in a booby-trapped building in Majdal Zoun. This incident, the first Israeli combat deaths on the northern front in over a month, occurred amid ongoing US-backed peace negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Rome. Defense Minister Israel Katz reportedly questioned the decision to enter the building rather than destroy it remotely. The tragedy underscores Israel's difficult balancing act, as every escalation carries immediate diplomatic consequences. The article emphasizes that lasting peace with Lebanon cannot be achieved as long as Hezbollah remains armed and capable of carrying out deadly attacks, despite diplomatic efforts focused on expanding Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) control and verification mechanisms. As Harel Birenstock's mother, Yonat, recounted, her son said, "Mom, in the end everyone dies. So if I'm going to die, at least let it be like this."