US decries 'embarrassing' case against Lebanese envoy over contact with Israel

The United States has voiced its disapproval of Lebanon's handling of a complaint filed against its ambassador to Washington, Nada Moawad. The controversy arose when Moawad reached out to Israel's ambassador to inquire about her son's condition following a car-ramming attack in the West Bank. A spokesperson for the US State Department deemed the situation embarrassing, as Lebanon's military court is overseeing the case.

The complaint was lodged by a lawyer named Hassan Adel Bazzi, described by Washington as pro-Hezbollah. The State Department explained that Lebanon's public prosecutor had referred the matter to the government commissioner to the military court, a step that does not involve prosecution or investigation.

Both ambassadors have been instrumental in direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, a relationship that has effectively been at war since 1948. The talks aimed to facilitate Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah, two objectives that have proven difficult to achieve.

In Lebanon, there are significant criticisms of the government for engaging in negotiations with Israel. Hezbollah and its supporters have been particularly vocal in their disagreement with the government's approach. The State Department emphasized that the Lebanese military judiciary should prioritize prosecuting Hezbollah operatives who plan attacks on the Lebanese government and people, rather than targeting civilians and diplomats engaged in negotiations on their behalf.

The department called for the repeal of laws and practices that enable such politicized targeting of civilians and diplomats, while shielding Hezbollah operatives. The military court has faced previous accusations of being influenced by Hezbollah. Currently, it is investigating two men who were found with explosives bound for Beirut's southern suburbs, an area under Hezbollah's control.