Arrest warrant in Lebanon for tycoon who met Netanyahu in Washington: "Collaborated with the enemy"
Antoine Sahnoui, the partner of former US envoy Morgan Ortagus, was described by her as a "Christian Zionist." At an event in memory of Senator Lindsey Graham, he was documented with the Prime Minister and his wife Sara. The Lebanese response was swift: the Attorney General issued an arrest warrant against him after confirming that the photos from the event were not AI-generated.
Lebanese authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Lebanese tycoon Antoine Sahnoui after he was filmed speaking with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a dinner in Washington, USA. This was stated by a source in the Lebanese judicial system to the AFP news agency.
The warrant, under which Sahnoui is to be arrested for 30 days, accuses him of "collaboration with the Israeli enemy and violation of the Lebanese law on boycotting Israel." The report noted that the warrant was issued by Public Prosecutor Ahmad Rami al-Hajj after it was determined that the footage of Sahnoui and Netanyahu, with his wife Sara by their side, "is authentic and has not undergone any digital changes or the use of artificial intelligence techniques." This followed the Lebanese judicial system tasking security services with verifying that the footage, which circulated on social media and caused a stir in the country, was reliable.
According to the report, Sahnoui organized the dinner where he met Netanyahu together with his partner, former American envoy to Lebanon Morgan Ortagus. The dinner was held as part of the events surrounding the funeral of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a long-time supporter of Israel who passed away unexpectedly on the 11th of the month. Following the publication of the photo, several Lebanese lawyers took legal action against Sahnoui, demanding he be prosecuted "for his ties to Israel and its Prime Minister."
Sahnoui, described by his partner Ortagus as a "Christian Zionist," expressed support for normalization between Israel and Lebanon during the fighting against Hezbollah. On the last Holocaust Remembrance Day, the two made headlines in the Arab world due to remarks made by Ortagus while visiting the Holocaust Museum in Washington with Sahnoui:
"What is so beautiful about Antoine and his family is that they come from generations of dedicated Lebanese Christian Zionists. His father and mother raised him to be a supporter of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. As a Jew myself with Jewish children, it is important for us to have allies like the Sahnoui family who will stand with the Jewish people."
She further stated: "What Antoine is doing is technically illegal in Lebanon, and he continues, despite the ridiculous laws in Lebanon that forbid Lebanese citizens from talking to Israelis. He funds and assists the Holocaust Museum, the Israeli American Opera, peace initiatives between Lebanon and Israel, and that is why I am so proud of him today."
Sahnoui himself wrote on his Instagram account about the visit, alongside photos with Ortagus: "On Holocaust Remembrance Day, Morgan and I had the honor of attending the memorial ceremony at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, where our inscription was unveiled on the donor wall. This year, and every year, we remember that it is our responsibility to ensure that future generations never forget. We are grateful for the support for this institution and its vital work."
