Lead:
Lebanon's opinion pages reflect deep anxiety over converging crises: the unresolved southern conflict with Israel, deteriorating economic conditions compounded by recent warfare, broader regional tensions between the United States and Iran, and the Lebanese Army's centrality to any political or security settlement. Columnists address whether current negotiations can hold, whether the state can recover economically, and what role military institutions must play.
Voices & Positions:
In Al-Diyar, analyst Karim al-Bawab contends that Lebanon's GDP is contracting between 10 and 15 percent annually, with projected output falling to approximately 35 billion dollars due to war's impact on commerce and investment confidence.
In Al-Diyar, international lawyer and electricity regulator member Christina Abi Haidar warns that Lebanon faces an imminent, graver phase of energy crisis as a direct consequence of war-driven demand and system strain, requiring emergency government protocols.
In An-Nahar, a columnist examines whether incoming U.S. President Trump will feel compelled to resume military action against Iran, analyzing Iranian responses to American peace proposals as either genuine diplomatic engagement or continued resistance.
In An-Nahar, another writer argues that Syria's future will not be determined by military force alone but by Syrians' capacity to build a new social contract free of the authoritarian tools that created the original crisis.
Retired Major General Munir Shehade told Channel 23 that the region stands at a critically sensitive crossroads where U.S. and Iranian threats intertwine, and the coming days will reshape the region's political face.
Tension & Convergence:
Writers converge on the severity of Lebanon's economic and security predicament and on the Lebanese Army's irreplaceable role in recovery. They diverge sharply on whether negotiations with Israel will succeed: some stress that unilateral implementation of agreements is futile, while others emphasize the military's centrality to any southern redeployment. Columnists also split on regional dynamics—some warn of imminent U.S.-Iranian escalation, while others urge focus on domestic state-building.
Editorial Takeaway:
The dominant voice today is one of urgent crisis combined with cautious recognition that Lebanon's military and government must anchor any settlement, even as economic contraction and regional volatility narrow the window for success.