Lebanese lawyers have filed a legal complaint against banker Antoun Sehnaoui for meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, accusing him of violating Lebanon's law banning contact with Israelis. The complaint, filed by more than a dozen lawyers, alleges that Sehnaoui committed crimes including contacting and dealing with the Israeli enemy, violating the Israel boycott law, treason, and state security crimes.
The complaint stems from a photo posted on X by Axios reporter Barak Ravid, showing Sehnaoui sitting at a table with Netanyahu and his wife Sara. Ravid reported that Sehnaoui and former U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus hosted a dinner in memory of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, attended by Netanyahu and U.S. officials.
Lebanese Supreme Court judge Ahmad Rami al-Hajj has ordered security forces to locate and question Sehnaoui within 30 days. The Technical Information Office examined the photo and concluded it was genuine. After the 30-day period, the case file will be sent to the Military Court, which could issue an arrest warrant. Sehnaoui could be detained upon returning to Lebanon.
Effectively and swiftly
Lawyer Hassan Bazzi said that Sehnaoui violated the law and offended national sentiments, while lawyer Mohammed Hajj Hassan called the meeting a 'public offense.' A Lebanese foreign ministry official declined to comment.
Lebanon's 1955 law bans citizens from dealing with Israel, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison. The complaint comes amid renewed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which revived in March, and while Israel continues to occupy dozens of villages in southern Lebanon. The two countries have been holding US-backed direct talks for the first time in decades, recently reaching a framework agreement. More than 4,000 people in Lebanon have been killed in the conflict.
Killed in Lebanon amid the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
Antoun Sehnaoui, who has been mostly based in the U.S. in recent years, has businesses in banking, media, and the film industry. He faced harsh criticism following Lebanon's 2019 economic meltdown, which the World Bank described as among the worst since the 1850s. Some in Lebanon have called for abolishing the 1955 boycott law.