Anger in Lebanon: One Guest at Netanyahu's Dinner Sparks a Storm

Lebanese businessman and banker Antoine Sakhnaoui was photographed at a dinner in Washington attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, sparking outrage in Lebanon. About twenty lawyers filed a complaint with the attorney general, alleging an illegal connection with Israel. A judge ordered security forces to locate and interrogate him within 30 days. Sakhnaoui is in the US, but the order could lead to his detention if he returns to Lebanon. Lebanese law prohibits ties with Israeli citizens and institutions, as the two countries are officially at war. MPs joined the criticism: Halima Kaakour called it a 'deep moral and national crisis', while Ibrahim Mneimneh demanded an immediate investigation. MP Jamil al-Sayyed argued that the state itself holds direct talks with Israel, so citizens mimicking its conduct should not be surprising. Sakhnaoui's partner is Morgan Ortagus, former US deputy envoy for the Middle East, involved in Israel-Lebanon contacts. In April, the couple appeared at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, where Ortagus praised his support for Israel, drawing sharp criticism in Lebanon.

Lebanese businessman and banker Antoine Sakhnaoui is at the center of a storm after being photographed at a dinner in Washington attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife. Following the publication, about twenty lawyers filed a complaint with the attorney general in Lebanon, claiming Sakhnaoui maintained an illegal connection with Israel. Appeals court judge Ahmed Rami al-Hajj ordered security forces to locate and interrogate him within thirty days. Sakhnaoui is in the United States, but the order could lead to his detention or arrest if he returns to Lebanon. Lebanese law prohibits ties and transactions with Israeli citizens and institutions, as the two countries are still officially in a state of war. Lebanese MPs joined the criticism: Halima Kaakour described the event as a 'deep moral and national crisis', while Ibrahim Mneimneh called for an immediate investigation. In contrast, MP Jamil al-Sayyed argued that the state itself currently holds direct talks with Israel, so it should not be surprising that citizens mimic its conduct. Sakhnaoui's partner is Morgan Ortagus, former US deputy envoy for the Middle East, who was involved in contacts between Israel and Lebanon. In April, the couple appeared at an event at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, and Ortagus praised his support for Israel, a statement that drew sharp criticism in Lebanon.