Lebanese Political Hesitation Over Revisiting the Israel Boycott Law

A complaint against Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, over her contact with the Israeli ambassador to the United States reopened the file of Lebanese laws governing relations with Israel. A US State Department official said Secretary Marco Rubio raised with President Joseph Aoun the 1955 Israel boycott law and described it as ‘impractical,’ while US Ambassador to Beirut Michel Issa said the law ‘has no meaning’ in light of direct talks under American sponsorship. However, most Lebanese political forces are reluctant to open a serious discussion now and link any amendment to a political understanding that ends the war and Israeli occupation, while Hezbollah and Amal refuse to discuss the issue.