Lebanese businessman hosts Netanyahu in Washington

Lebanase businessman and banker Antoun Sehnaoui hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a memorial dinner for Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington. 

Sehnaoui, who faces corruption allegations in Lebanon, and former US envoy Morgan Ortagus hosted the dinner on Monday at the Four Seasons hotel.

According to Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, attendees also included Graham's family and Republican and Democratic senators.

US President Donald Trump's far-right senior adviser Stephen Miller, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Facebook executive Dina Powell McCormick, former adviser to the Department of Government Efficiency Katie Miller, and Israeli ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter also attended.

Sehnaoui, chief executive of Societe Generale de Banque au Liban (SGBL) and wealth management firm Fidus, has been a controversial figure in Lebanon since the 2019 financial crisis.

Prosecutors have charged him and SGBL with alleged money laundering linked to currency trading during the financial crisis. The bank denies any wrongdoing.

Sehnaoui's decision to host Netanyahu also comes as Israel continues its bombing campaign in Lebanon, which has killed more than 4,300 people since 2 March, while Israeli forces remain in parts of southern Lebanon.

Sehnaoui has been accused of links to far-right Christian organisations in Lebanon, and has also been described as a "committed Zionist".

Lebanon has no relations with Israel and contact between Israelis and Lebanese is illegal.

However, some political organisations and groups in Lebanon - primarily from the Maronite Christian community - have long had covert ties with their southern neighbour and advocated establishing relations.