The long road to reconciliation

The agreement between Israel and Hezbollah to cease fire is raising hopes that this event could have a mediating effect on other long-standing conflict hotspots, such as between Israel and Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip and between Russia and Ukraine.

Lebanese citizens return to the city of Tyre on November 28, a day after the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect. (Source: AP)

The reality is that after a long period of bloody conflict, all parties involved are feeling exhausted. Meanwhile, the international landscape is changing with the imminent return of Donald Trump, who advocates for a swift resolution of the aforementioned "hot spots."

Therefore, it is not surprising that the idea of ​​peace talks has been increasingly prevalent recently. On December 1st, Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated: "There are negotiations taking place behind the scenes, and an agreement can be reached" with Hamas. Prior to this, a high-level Hamas delegation had traveled to Cairo, Egypt, to discuss proposals for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Regarding Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had initially taken a hardline stance, began to adjust his position, mentioning for the first time the possibility of his country signing a ceasefire agreement with Russia. Meanwhile, according to Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations, Gennady Gatilov, Russia is ready to engage in dialogue to end the conflict in Ukraine if US President-elect Donald Trump initiates negotiations.

But history shows that overcoming the hatred that has accumulated in protracted conflicts is not easy. Despite committing to a ceasefire with Hezbollah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that this did not mean the war was over. Netanyahu even threatened to “enforce this ceasefire with an iron fist.”

The differing positions between Russia and Ukraine are also not easy to resolve. To sign a ceasefire agreement, Ukraine insists it must be placed under the "security umbrella" of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Meanwhile, Russia's condition for any peace agreement is that Ukraine must not join NATO.

A spirit of reconciliation is emerging. But the road from idea to reality is a long one.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thoa-thuan-ngung-ban-israel-hezbollah-con-duong-dai-hoa-giai-296243.html