Controversy in Lebanon Over Banker’s Meeting with Israeli Leader
Lebanese lawyers have filed a complaint against a prominent local banker, Antoun Sehnaoui, for violating the country’s laws by meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington this week. The meeting has sparked outrage among Lebanese citizens who see it as a betrayal of the country’s sovereignty.
Sehnaoui, a well-known figure in Lebanese banking and business circles, met with Netanyahu at a dinner hosted by Sehnaoui and former U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus. The dinner was held in memory of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, and it was attended by U.S. officials and Netanyahu’s wife, Sara.
Lebanon and Israel have been holding U.S.-backed direct talks for the first time in decades over the past three months, seeking an end to the latest fighting between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in southern Lebanon.
However, Lebanon’s laws prohibit its citizens from having contact with Israelis, and violators could face prison terms. The laws, which date back to 1948, remain in effect despite calls by some Lebanese citizens to abolish them.
The complaint filed by the lawyers accused Sehnaoui of committing ‘the crimes of contacting and dealing with the Israeli enemy, violating the Israel boycott law, the crime of treason and state security crimes.’
Two of the Lebanese lawyers who filed the complaint told The Associated Press that the Sehnaoui-Netanyahu meeting came as Israel’s military is still carrying out attacks on Lebanon. They said the meeting was a public offense and that the judiciary is expected to investigate the case, which could lead to issuing arrest warrants.
In the past, Lebanese prosecutors have issued arrest warrants in similar cases for Lebanese citizens outside the country. However, it is unclear how prosecutors will deal with the case, and a foreign ministry official refused to comment when contacted by the AP.
Sehnaoui has several businesses in Lebanon and abroad in sectors including banking, media, and the film industry. He has been mostly based in the U.S. in recent years and has been harshly criticized following Lebanon’s historic economic meltdown in 2019.
Some in Lebanon have called for abolishing the 1955 law that bans dealing with Israel or having contacts with Israelis, which punishes offenders with up to 10 years in jail. However, the law remains in effect, and the Sehnaoui-Netanyahu meeting has sparked a renewed debate about its relevance in modern times.
