Lebanese PM: Peace with Israel could bring economic ties, but both are far off

(Patria) - Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Wednesday that lasting peace with Israel could pave the way for normalizing relations with the country and establishing economic ties, but these milestones are still far off given current tensions, Reuters reported.

"Economic (talks) will be part of normalization, normalization will follow peace. It cannot precede peace," Salam said, asked about Israeli statements that it hoped to build ties and economic cooperation with Lebanon.

"We are far from being there," he told reporters at his office.

Lebanon and Israel have been enemy states for decades. Israel has repeatedly attacked Lebanon, most recently in 2024 after nearly a year of exchanges of fire with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

Israel still holds positions in southern Lebanon and carries out airstrikes against what it says are Hezbollah's efforts to rearm and plan new operations against Israel.

Salam said a ceasefire agreement from November 2024 would have to be fully implemented before further steps could be considered, saying Israel would have to withdraw its troops and stop its attacks, and Hezbollah would have to disarm completely.

Hezbollah has refused to fully surrender its arsenal, but Salam said it had agreed to a ceasefire agreement that affirms the state's monopoly on weapons.
"Hezbollah must fulfill its obligations," he said.