Lebanon PM says peace with Israel could bring economic ties, but both far off

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Wednesday that a lasting peace with Israel could pave the way to normalising ties with the country and establishing economic ties but that those milestones remained far off given current tensions.



"Economic (talks) will be a part of normalisation, normalisation will follow peace. It cannot precede peace," Salam said, when asked about Israel's statements that it was hoping 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 invaded Lebanon several times in operations against militant groups, most recently in 2024 after nearly a year of exchanging fire with Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.