Lebanon Lawyers Seek Probe Into Banker Over Alleged Netanyahu Dinner in Washington

A group of Lebanese lawyers has filed a legal complaint urging the country’s top prosecutor to investigate prominent banker Antoun Sehnaoui over allegations that he co-hosted a dinner in Washington attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The complaint, submitted on Wednesday, accuses Sehnaoui of "communicating with the Israeli enemy," according to one of the complainants, lawyer Mohamad Amer Al Haj Hassan. Under Lebanese law, citizens are prohibited from engaging in transactions or communications with Israeli individuals and institutions, as Lebanon and Israel remain officially in a state of war.

The legal action highlights Lebanon’s continued sensitivity over any perceived normalization of relations with Israel. Tensions remain high after months of conflict with Hezbollah earlier this year, with Israeli forces still occupying a disputed strip of land in southern Lebanon despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli prime minister attended a July 27 dinner honoring late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime supporter of Israel who died on July 11. While the statement confirmed Netanyahu’s attendance, it did not identify the event’s organizers.

However, an Israeli official and a source familiar with the gathering said the dinner was organized by Sehnaoui and Morgan Ortagus, who previously served as U.S. President Donald Trump’s deputy special envoy to the Middle East.

The reported meeting has drawn criticism in Lebanon. Member of Parliament Halima Kaakour described Sehnaoui’s alleged encounter with Netanyahu as a "major moral and national crisis," arguing that such contact is unacceptable while Israeli troops remain on Lebanese territory.

Sehnaoui, chairman of Societe Generale de Banque au Liban and a member of one of Lebanon’s most prominent banking families, currently resides in the United States. He did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the allegations.

The banker previously faced public backlash in April after posting on X that he had attended a Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony in Washington alongside Ortagus. The latest complaint adds to the controversy, as Lebanese authorities face renewed pressure to enforce laws governing contact with Israeli officials.