Majority of Lebanese Want Peace Deal With Israel

For the first time in recent memory, a majority of Lebanese citizens are saying they want peace with Israel and an end to armed militias in their country.

A comprehensive poll of 2,000 Lebanese residents across all regions and religious communities found that most respondents support reaching a peace agreement with Israel. The survey, conducted between April 28 and May 5 by the International Information Company, offers a rare glimpse into shifting public opinion in a nation long divided by sectarian politics.

The support cuts across most communities. Druze respondents showed the strongest backing at 84%, followed by Maronite Christians at 77% and Orthodox Christians at 72%. Even among Sunni Muslims, a slim majority of 52% favored pursuing peace.

The desire for change extends beyond diplomacy. A clear majority of 58% said they support disarming Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia that has operated as a state within a state for decades. Large majorities of Christians and Druze back this move, signaling exhaustion with the cycle of conflict.

Lebanon has endured years of economic collapse, political paralysis, and repeated rounds of devastating warfare. The latest conflict broke out in March after Hezbollah attacked Israel following the assassination of Iran's supreme leader. Many Lebanese citizens now see the armed group as a liability rather than a defender.

The Bright Side

What makes these numbers truly remarkable is the trend line. Support for normalizing relations with Israel stood at just 13% in August 2024. Now, 41% of respondents favor normalization. That's a threefold increase in less than a year.

Even more striking, one in five Lebanese now support opening an Israeli embassy in Beirut. Among Druze communities, that number jumps to 70%. These aren't just abstract polling questions. They represent real people reconsidering long-held positions in favor of stability and peace.

The poll shows that 43% would support direct talks between Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While still a minority nationally, majorities of Druze, Maronite, and Orthodox Christian respondents back such direct communication.

Lebanon recently passed legislation banning weapons for non-state actors, a direct challenge to Hezbollah's arsenal. The polling data suggests this controversial move reflects genuine public sentiment, at least among a slim majority tired of living in the shadow of regional proxy conflicts.

After decades of hostility and multiple wars, Lebanese voices calling for peace are growing louder and more confident.