Israeli tech entrepreneur Eyal Waldman, founder of Mellanox Technologies, revealed Monday that he had received authorization to speak with contacts in Syria and Lebanon as part of an effort to improve Israel's regional relationships. He did not specify who granted the authorization or identify the individuals involved.
"I received authorization to speak with people in Syria and Lebanon," Waldman said at the Birthright Israel Global Business Summit, held at the Hilton Hotel in Tel Aviv. "I'm trying to help improve Israel's geopolitical standing through connections with our northern neighbors, Syria and Lebanon. We're also working with Gulf countries, other parties and the Palestinians. The goal is to help Israel not only economically but also geopolitically."
Eyal Waldman, founder of Mellanox Technologies
(Photo: Orel Cohen)
Waldman, who founded Mellanox before its acquisition by American chip giant Nvidia, argued that Israel's disputes with its neighbors could be resolved through diplomacy.
"We need to resolve the issues with Lebanon and Syria, and it's definitely possible," he said. "We need to bring Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords by making progress on the Palestinian issue, and then address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which I also believe can be resolved."
Asked which was more difficult, managing engineers or engaging in diplomacy, Waldman did not hesitate. "Diplomacy, by a wide margin," he replied. "When it's unclear how to achieve your goals and there's so much uncertainty along the way, it's much harder than management."
The entrepreneur also sharply criticized Israel's current leadership, arguing that the country needs a fundamental change in direction.
"We see the reactions around the world to what's happening in Israel, and it's a serious matter," he said. "These have been four very difficult years for Israel. All the indicators point to failure. Now we need to fix it."
Waldman called for "a 180-degree change from the current policy," saying political change must come first, followed by efforts to rebuild the country and improve its regional standing.
The entrepreneur's diplomatic initiatives come against the backdrop of a profound personal tragedy. His daughter Danielle, 24, and her boyfriend, Noam Shai, were murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Nova music festival during the October 7 massacre in 2023. Since then, Waldman has repeatedly emphasized the importance of Israeli society's resilience and the need for far-reaching changes in the country.
‘The best acquisition in history’
Waldman also discussed Nvidia's acquisition of Mellanox, the Israeli networking technology company he founded. The transaction, completed in April 2020 for approximately $7 billion, became one of the most significant acquisitions in Israel's technology industry.
"I think it was the best acquisition in history, and not just in the technology industry," Waldman said.
According to Waldman, the success of the merger stemmed primarily from the people involved and the technological compatibility between the two companies.
"First of all, the people. Then the combination of technologies, the graphics processors, the networking and our capabilities," he explained. "The ability to provide a complete end-to-end solution, from the processor through the network to the storage systems, is what made this combination so attractive."
He added that the companies also shared a similar corporate culture and approach to innovation.
Waldman was equally enthusiastic about the development of artificial intelligence, predicting that the technology would transform essential services and everyday life.
"Artificial intelligence will bring significant improvements to our infrastructure and capabilities," he said. "It will make life safer, simpler and healthier, and significantly improve the quality of life for all of us."
He stressed that AI remains at a relatively early stage of development, despite the rapid advances already seen.
"In the future, we'll have flying machines and AI services in hospitals," he predicted. "We're only beginning to see how it enters our lives, and it will continue much further."
Turning to Israel's technology industry, Waldman said the country's concentration of technological expertise remained one of its greatest competitive advantages.
"The concentration of technology in Israel is extraordinary," he said. "The number of startups and international companies operating here is something truly unique to our country."
He also pointed to military service as a major factor in the development of Israeli entrepreneurs and executives, citing his own experience in officers' training.
"For me, officers' training was an experience that stayed with me throughout my career," he said. "When you run a company, you're at war 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You have to know how to deal with those challenges."
Waldman said that mindset had shaped his approach to business and leadership.
"We don't have the option of losing. There's no alternative. We have to win. That's our worldview and our culture."