Lebanese Businessman Faces Arrest Warrant After Dinner with Netanyahu in Washington

Anton Sahnawi, a prominent Lebanese businessman and banker, was photographed dining with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sarah at a celebratory dinner in Washington, D.C. The event, held at the Bourbon Steak restaurant in the Four Seasons hotel, honored U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and included American senators and figures close to the Trump administration. The photos of the meeting, which took place thousands of kilometers from Beirut, quickly spread on social media and sparked controversy in Lebanon, where contact with Israelis is illegal and diplomatic relations with Israel do not exist.

Following the public outcry, Lebanese Attorney General Ahmad Rami Al-Hajj issued a 30-day search and inquiry order against Sahnawi on suspicion of "collaborating with the Israeli enemy" and violating Lebanon's boycott law against Israel. If located during this period, Sahnawi may be arrested and interrogated. Lebanese security forces verified the authenticity of the photos, ruling out digital manipulation or AI editing.

Sahnawi's connections in the U.S. have previously attracted attention; in April, he appeared alongside Ortogus at a Holocaust museum event in Washington, with their names inscribed on the museum's donor wall. Lebanese lawyer and activist Wassif Al-Harkha filed a personal lawsuit against Sahnawi, demanding a thorough and transparent legal investigation without political or economic immunity. The case highlights the legal and political risks Lebanese citizens face when engaging with Israeli officials amid ongoing regional tensions.