What is Israel getting for releasing Lebanese detainees?

Israel's "goodwill gesture" releasing five Lebanese detainees from the war yesterday (Wednesday) is aimed at securing a number of Israeli interests in the country, according to Channel 14 reporter and analyst Tamir Morag.

According to Morag, the goal of the gesture is to facilitate negotiations with the Lebanese state over the five strategic positions the IDF still holds in Lebanon. Another matter for negotiation is disputes over thirteen points along the border, including what Israel calls Mount Dov and Lebanon calls the Shebaa Farms - an area Israel considers strategically important for its defense.

The broader aim of the gesture is to strengthen the Lebanese state and especially President Joseph Aoun against Hezbollah, which will help improve relations between the countries. Aoun has consistently demanded Israel return full control of all Lebanese soil to Lebanon but has also opposed a return to war to ensure this and has also openly committed the country to securing a lasting ceasefire in southern Lebanon.

US mediator Steve Witkoff has also raised the possibility of Lebanon joining the Abraham Accords at some point. This option seems unlikely in the near future but may come later down the road.

The United States has worked hard under both the Biden and Trump administrations to strengthen the power of the Lebanese state at the expense of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, especially by securing the election of President Joseph Aoun, who is considered to be in favor of a strong Lebanese state.

Thus far, Lebanon has worked hard to demonstrate that it can handle its own affairs, including by deploying the Lebanese Army in southern Lebanon and working to prevent any and all arms and money smuggling from Iran into Lebanon to help resupply and rebuild the Hezbollah terrorist organization following the blows it suffered at the hands of the IDF.