Lebanese Tycoon Anton Sahnawi Arrested Over Dinner with Israeli PM Netanyahu in Washington

Lebanese authorities have issued a 30-day arrest warrant for Lebanese tycoon Anton Sahnawi after he was filmed dining with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sarah in Washington, D.C. The Lebanese judiciary accused Sahnawi of collaborating with Israel, which is considered an enemy state under Lebanese law, and violating laws prohibiting contact with Israel. The arrest order was issued by public prosecutor Ahmad Rami Al-Hajj following verification that the footage of the dinner was authentic and unaltered, despite circulating controversy in Lebanon.

The dinner took place during events surrounding the funeral of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime supporter of Israel who died unexpectedly on June 11. Sahnawi reportedly organized the dinner alongside his partner, former U.S. envoy to Lebanon Morgan Ortagus. The footage sparked legal actions by Lebanese lawyers demanding Sahnawi be prosecuted for his ties to Israel and Netanyahu.

Morgan Ortagus described Sahnawi as a "Christian Zionist" who supports normalization between Lebanon and Israel, especially amid tensions with Hezbollah. The couple recently drew attention in the Arab world after visiting the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, where Ortagus praised Sahnawi’s family for their pro-Israel stance and support for Jewish causes. Sahnawi posted on Instagram about their participation in the Holocaust remembrance ceremony, emphasizing the importance of remembering history and supporting the museum’s work.

The case highlights the sensitive and legally fraught nature of Lebanese-Israeli relations, where any contact with Israeli officials is criminalized. The Lebanese security services have been tasked with ensuring the authenticity of the footage, which has fueled public debate and legal scrutiny in Lebanon.