Mellanox Founder Eyal Waldman Authorized to Hold Talks With Syria and Lebanon
Mellanox founder Eyal Waldman announced he has secured approval to hold talks with Syrian and Lebanese officials. Speaking at the Taglit Global Business Summit, he also criticized Israel's leadership and praised Nvidia's historic acquisition.
Eyal Waldman, founder of the high-tech company Mellanox, revealed on Monday that he has received official approval to hold discussions with officials in Syria and Lebanon as part of efforts to advance Israel's standing in the international arena. The remarks were made during the inaugural Taglit Global Business Summit held at the Hilton Hotel in Tel Aviv, convening hundreds of business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs from Israel and around the world.
"I am trying to assist in improving Israel's geopolitical standing in the world through ties with our northern neighbors, Syria and Lebanon," Waldman said. According to Waldman, his outreach is not limited to these two nations and also extends to Gulf states, other regional actors, and the Palestinians. He did not disclose, however, who authorized the conversations or the exact mandate provided to him.
Waldman expressed optimism regarding the prospect of advancing regional agreements, notwithstanding the complex political and security landscape. He asserted that outstanding disputes with Lebanon and Syria can be resolved, eventually paving the way for Saudi Arabia's inclusion in the Abraham Accords. He emphasized that progress on the Palestinian issue remains a prerequisite, expressing confidence that a workable solution can be found.
Contrasting the worlds of high-tech enterprise and diplomacy, Waldman noted that statecraft presents vastly superior hurdles. "Diplomacy is much harder, by a wide margin," he stated. While business leaders can establish clear objectives and map direct pathways to achievement, the international arena is plagued by profound uncertainty, making desired outcomes exceedingly difficult to navigate.
Alongside his regional diplomatic aspirations, Waldman offered scathing criticism of Israel's current political leadership and international standing, warning that global backlash against government policies constitutes an acute crisis requiring immediate remediation.
"These have been four very difficult years for Israel. All indicators point to failure. Now we must fix this," he said. He called for a complete 180-degree pivot in national policy, arguing that reform must begin with political transformation before tackling broader diplomatic isolation.
Waldman's public engagement comes against the backdrop of profound personal tragedy. On October 7, his 24-year-old daughter Danielle and her partner Noam Lee were murdered at the Nova music festival.
Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, the Mellanox founder revisited one of the most prominent transactions in technological history—the acquisition of his company by semiconductor titan Nvidia. Waldman expressed unreserved satisfaction, describing the deal in superlative terms: "I think it is the best acquisition in history, and not just in the technology industry."
He attributed the success primarily to corporate synergy and human capital, alongside the seamless technological integration of graphics processing units, networking infrastructure, and advanced storage capabilities. Looking toward the future, Waldman noted that the artificial intelligence revolution remains in its infancy, projecting sweeping transformations across societal infrastructure, public safety, healthcare, and daily convenience, including flying autonomous vehicles and AI-driven hospital services.
The summit, themed "Shaping the Future Together," drew approximately 350 investors, executives, and philanthropists, with over 100 participants arriving from more than 15 countries. Key discussions centered on the Israeli economy's trajectory, venture capital, innovation, artificial intelligence, and cross-border partnerships. Notable attendees included Dr. Miriam Adelson, Meir Shamir, Sir Ronald Cohen, Yinon Costica, Yisrael Maimon, and former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen.
Addressing the economic outlook, Ministry of Finance Budget Director Mehran Frozanfar expressed confidence in the market's robust growth capacity irrespective of governing coalitions, underscoring human capital as Israel's primary economic engine. Frozanfar unveiled plans for a five-year fiscal strategy targeting investments in high-tech, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, national infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
A poignant highlight of the conference featured Aviv Avinatan Or, who recently returned to Israel after enduring 738 days in Hamas captivity. A screening of his testimony underscored the harrowing ordeals faced by hostages and their families, while expressing profound gratitude for public solidarity.
"It is important for me to share my story and bring the truth so that everyone knows what really happened," said Or, signaling a resolute desire to rebuild his life, foster creative pursuits, and reconnect with society.
