President Biden’s announcement Tuesday of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon marked a significant foreign policy achievement weeks before he leaves office. The halt in fighting provides desperately needed calm for Israeli and Lebanese civilians along the border — and a chance to return to abandoned communities — after nearly 14 months

Unsurprisingly, Hezbollah was suddenly prepared to agree to a 60-day truce. In announcing the ceasefire, Biden said that both sides “have accepted the United States’ proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.” He added that the ceasefire “is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.”