Justice Minister Adel Nassar has opened the door to a rare debate over one of Lebanon’s most sensitive legal taboos: the 1955 law criminalizing contact with Israel, This Is Lebanon reported.

In remarks that signal a marked shift in tone, Nassar acknowledged that the decades-old statute has, at times, been used as a tool to pressure political activists. Enacted in a vastly different geopolitical era, the law was originally intended to prohibit any form of contact with Israel. But Nassar conceded that in certain periods it was deployed more broadly, serving to intimidate or pursue individuals under sweeping accusations of “communication” or “incitement.”

He said a “profound change” is now underway and vowed that any further misuse of the law would not be tolerated. Nassar added that he is personally overseeing efforts to prevent arbitrary enforcement and emphasized that the judiciary’s role is to safeguard freedoms—not to uphold political taboos inherited from another time.

The law was passed in 1955 amid escalating regional tensions and in the absence of any diplomatic framework between Lebanon and Israel. Its purpose was clear: to criminalize any relationship or contact with the Israeli state.

Over the decades, however, critics say the law’s application drifted beyond its original intent. During periods of intense political polarization, journalists, researchers and activists were summoned for questioning or threatened with prosecution under its provisions. In some instances, cases were reportedly tied to academic exchanges, public analysis or political positions.

Even when investigations did not result in convictions, the chilling effect was significant. The threat of prosecution alone was often enough to deter speech, and mere suspicion could carry lasting consequences.

By publicly acknowledging this record, Nassar has broken with a longstanding reluctance among Lebanese officials to scrutinize how the law has been enforced—raising the prospect of a broader reckoning over its future.