In a November 14, 2025 appearance on MTV (Lebanon), Lebanese journalist Joseph Abu Fadel delivered an unusually direct and bold message: he publicly declared his support for full peace with Israel, not merely “normalization.”
Abu Fadel said that Lebanon should enter direct negotiations with Israel and that he personally wants to be able to drive his own car straight to Jerusalem.
He went further, emphasizing that — just as citizens of Arab states that have already made peace with Israel — Lebanese Christians long to visit Jerusalem freely and pray there. His remarks challenge Lebanon’s political status quo and confront Hezbollah’s grip on national policy, calling for a future where Lebanon is no longer held back from regional integration and coexistence.
NEWSRAEL: WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT
Abu Fadel’s comments reflect a significant shift taking place inside parts of Lebanese society — a growing willingness to break free from Hezbollah’s dominance and explore a path toward peace and prosperity. His remarks highlight what many in Lebanon quietly feel: that peace with Israel could open the door to economic opportunity, regional stability, and religious freedom. Openly advocating this on Lebanese television shows rising frustration with Hezbollah’s destructive agenda.