Lebanese television features Israeli journalist despite ban

DPAUpdated Sat, June 6, 2026 at 2:26 PM UTC1 min readAdd Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.

Renowned journalist and Middle East expert Barak Ravid has become the first Israeli to give an interview to a Lebanese television station.

In Lebanon, any contact with Israeli citizens has been punishable by law since 1955.

On Friday, Ravid spoke to LBCI presenter Toni Mrad about the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire.

When asked about the current negotiations, Ravid said the talks were still ongoing. He described Hezbollah's rejection of the latest ceasefire proposal as a tactical move to strengthen its own negotiating position in the US-mediated talks.

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Ravid, who is exceptionally well-connected, focuses mainly on US-Israeli relations and diplomacy particularly concerning the Middle East.

He works as a correspondent for the US news portal Axios, as a political commentator for the US broadcaster CNN, as well as for Israeli news site Walla and Channel 12 News.

Lebanon's Boycott Law from 1955 prohibits any direct or indirect interaction by Lebanese citizens or companies with Israeli entities, citizens or persons acting in the interests of Israel.

As both states are in a state of war under international law, the Lebanese judiciary classifies violations as collaboration with an enemy state.