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3. Will Lebanon Repeal Its Law Criminalizing Contact With Israel?

As Lebanese and Israeli officials conclude their second round of U.S.-brokered talks in Washington, a contradiction is becoming harder for Beirut to ignore. The state is now negotiating with Israel, while its citizens can still face prosecution for far less.

Following Thursday’s meeting between Lebanese and Israeli envoys at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump said a decades-old Lebanese law criminalizing contact with Israel must end.

“I’m pretty sure that will be ended very quickly. I will make sure of that,” Trump said at a press conference, where he announced an extension of the ceasefire in Lebanon.

Lebanon’s boycott law, adopted in 1955, prohibits direct and indirect dealings with Israeli individuals or entities, including commercial, financial, and cultural institutions. It carries prison sentences ranging from several years to harsher penalties under the broader criminal code.

“When the law was issued… it wasn’t meant to be used the way it is used now. It was supposed to be a commercial boycott,” Lebanese parliamentarian Fouad Makhzoumi told This is Beirut.

Instead, Makhzoumi said, the 1955 boycott law has been turned into a tool against Lebanese seeking to discuss peace with Israel.

Heavy-Handed and Politicized

The Lebanese judiciary’s enforcement of the boycott law has drawn criticism over its politicized and heavy-handed application. “The bigger problem is the interpretation of the law done by judges. These laws were mainly used for political reasons,” attorney Majd Harb told This is Beirut.

Kataeb Party head of foreign relations Marwan Abdallah echoed this analysis. “The law is sometimes applied as a tool to assert power or for political purposes, rather than as a genuine application of the rule of law,” he told This is Beirut.

Harb explained that the 1955 law fails to distinguish between legitimate security threats and innocuous civilian behavior. “Any individual who transmits sensitive information to any foreign army should be imprisoned. But a political activist who adds a friend on Instagram for example, should not be imprisoned,” he argued.

“We have defended several cases involving reporters, politicians, and doctors. It was scary to see that a reporter is being charged with a crime that could carry a life sentence,” Harb said.

The 1955 boycott law saddles Lebanon with economic and social costs. “These laws are the biggest obstacle to the economy, a huge obstacle for development,” Harb said.

Abdallah underscored the risks the law poses to Lebanon’s diaspora. “Many young Lebanese work abroad and, without realizing it, may come into contact with Israelis,” he said.

“This has led to legal proceedings or even arrests despite the absence of criminal intent.”

Pathway to Repeal

The boycott law can only be repealed through new legislation, either referred to Parliament by the government or proposed by one or more MPs. Political opposition in Parliament is likely to focus more on procedural issues than on substantive ones, Harb argued.

“I don’t believe any bloc would vote against it, but many will object to the timing more than the content,” he said.

The Kataeb Party has taken a clear stance in favor of abolishing the law. “We support abolishing this law, not because of external pressure, but because it serves the interests of the Lebanese people,” Abdallah explained.

He also rejects the idea that repeal should be framed as a response to foreign demands. “This should be seen as a Lebanese national demand, not the result of external pressure.”

MP Makhzoumi told This is Beirut that he firmly supports suspending the law, arguing that it no longer aligns with current realities.

Harb suggested that a full repeal may not be the only option. “If we fine-tune the law instead of completely cancelling it, we can get a solid majority without touching red lines,” he said.

This would involve maintaining strict penalties for espionage activity, while removing or clarifying provisions affecting interactions between Lebanese civilians, businesses, and professionals and Israelis, he explained.

“The change of these laws should be done regardless of the political situation. Let’s put politics aside. Let’s talk business, humanity, and practicality,” Harb said.