Arrest Warrant Issued in Lebanon for Tycoon Spotted Meeting Netanyahu in Washington
Lebanese authorities have ordered the 30-day detention of Anton Sahnawi following verified footage of him attending a dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Authorities in Lebanon have issued an arrest warrant against Lebanese tycoon Anton Sahnawi after he was documented engaging in conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a dinner in Washington, D.C. According to a source within the Lebanese judicial system speaking to AFP, the warrant mandates a 30-day detention and accuses Sahnawi of "cooperating with the Israeli enemy" and violating Lebanese laws regarding the boycott of Israel.
The warrant was issued by Public Prosecutor Ahmad Rami al-Hajj after an investigation confirmed that the footage—which shows Sahnawi alongside Netanyahu and his wife, Sara—is authentic and has not been manipulated by artificial intelligence.
The legal scrutiny follows a period of intense social media debate in Lebanon, during which security services were tasked with verifying the reliability of the circulating images.
Sahnawi organized the dinner alongside his partner, Morgan Ortagus, the former U.S. Envoy to Lebanon.
The event was held as part of the commemorations for the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Israel, who passed away unexpectedly on the 11th of this month.
The legal backlash intensified after several Lebanese attorneys filed actions against Sahnawi, seeking his prosecution for his connections to Israel and its leadership.
Sahnawi, whom Ortagus has described as a "Christian Zionist," has been a vocal proponent of normalization between Israel and Lebanon amidst the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.
Sahnawi and Ortagus previously drew significant attention in the Arab media during a visit to the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.
During that event, Ortagus praised Sahnawi’s background, noting that he comes from generations of dedicated Lebanese Christian Zionists and emphasizing the importance of allies for the Jewish people.
She further noted that while his activities might technically contravene certain Lebanese laws, his support for institutions such as the Israeli-American Opera and various peace initiatives is a point of immense pride.
The warrant was issued by Public Prosecutor Ahmad Rami al-Hajj after an investigation confirmed that the footage—which shows Sahnawi alongside Netanyahu and his wife, Sara—is authentic and has not been manipulated by artificial intelligence.
The legal scrutiny follows a period of intense social media debate in Lebanon, during which security services were tasked with verifying the reliability of the circulating images.
Sahnawi organized the dinner alongside his partner, Morgan Ortagus, the former U.S. Envoy to Lebanon.
The event was held as part of the commemorations for the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Israel, who passed away unexpectedly on the 11th of this month.
The legal backlash intensified after several Lebanese attorneys filed actions against Sahnawi, seeking his prosecution for his connections to Israel and its leadership.
Sahnawi, whom Ortagus has described as a "Christian Zionist," has been a vocal proponent of normalization between Israel and Lebanon amidst the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.
Sahnawi and Ortagus previously drew significant attention in the Arab media during a visit to the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.
During that event, Ortagus praised Sahnawi’s background, noting that he comes from generations of dedicated Lebanese Christian Zionists and emphasizing the importance of allies for the Jewish people.
She further noted that while his activities might technically contravene certain Lebanese laws, his support for institutions such as the Israeli-American Opera and various peace initiatives is a point of immense pride.
