More than a dozen Lebanese lawyers filed a complaint on Wednesday at the prosecutor's office in Beirut against prominent local banker Antoun Sehnaoui, alleging he violated Lebanese law by meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington this week. Lebanon and Israel remain in a state of war, and the country's laws prohibit citizens from having contact with Israelis, with potential prison terms for violators.
The meeting occurred during a dinner hosted by Sehnaoui and former U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus in memory of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, attended by Netanyahu and U.S. officials, according to Axios reporter Barak Ravid, who posted a photo of the event. A website linked to Sehnaoui also reported details of the dinner.
The complaint lodged by the lawyers accuses 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 lawyers involved told The Associated Press that the meeting took place while Israel's military was conducting attacks in Lebanon, following recent exchanges of fire between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group. More than 4,000 people have been killed in Lebanon during the conflict.
One lawyer, Hassan Bazzi, stated that Sehnaoui's actions violated the law and offended national sentiments, expressing hope for a swift and effective response from the prosecutor's office. Another lawyer, Mohammed Hajj Hassan, described the meeting as a "public offense," anticipating a judicial investigation that could lead to arrest warrants. In similar past cases, prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for Lebanese citizens abroad.
Sehnaoui, who has primarily resided in the U.S. in recent years, has business interests in Lebanon and internationally across banking, media, and film industries. He faced criticism following Lebanon's severe economic crisis in 2019. The incident comes as some in Lebanon advocate for the repeal of a 1955 law that bans contact with Israelis and imposes penalties of up to 10 years in prison.