Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Wednesday he hopes Israelis will one day be able to travel freely to Beirut, speaking to foreign diplomats in Jerusalem ahead of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon.
Speaking to a gathering that included envoys from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, Herzog said Israel was “eager” to help shape a Middle East where future generations “inherit opportunity instead of fear.”
He described a personal vision of peace with Lebanon, saying he had recently told Israeli schoolchildren that he dreams of driving “straight to Beirut” to visit the city and “befriend the good people of Lebanon.”
Herzog also expressed support for ongoing diplomatic efforts, welcoming a second round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon scheduled to take place in Washington. “I salute the teams who will hopefully gather tomorrow… and wish them great success in pursuing peace,” he said.
However, he stressed that any progress would depend on security considerations, adding that Israel “must ensure the safety of its borders” before such a scenario could materialize.
The upcoming discussions in Washington are set to include senior officials from both sides, in what marks a rare continuation of direct engagement between the two countries, which remain technically in a state of war.
The remarks come amid reports that the United States is expected to press Lebanon to repeal its law criminalizing contact between Lebanese citizens and Israelis during the ongoing talks, according to sources cited by Asharq Al-Awsat.
The legislation, rooted in Lebanon’s 1955 Israel Boycott Law, was enacted as part of broader efforts to prevent normalization with Israel. Repealing it would represent a significant step in the negotiations.
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