A legal complaint against Lebanon's ambassador to Washington over an alleged contact with her Israeli counterpart has been referred to the military judiciary, drawing strong criticism from the United States and dividing opinion in Lebanon.
Lawyer Hassan Adel Bazzi filed the complaint against Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad after Lebanese and Israeli media reported that she had contacted Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter following an attack in the occupied West Bank in which his son was injured.
The reports said Moawad expressed sympathy with Leiter and condemned the attack.
Moawad has neither publicly confirmed nor denied that the conversation took place. Lebanese media have cited sources denying the call, while official Lebanese sources told The New Arab they had no comment.
Lebanon's public prosecutor has referred the complaint to Judge Claude Ghanem, the government commissioner at the Military Court, for review.
The step does not itself constitute charges against Moawad or a formal referral for investigation.
The US State Department nevertheless condemned the move.
"It is shameful that a military court is considering a complaint against Lebanon's ambassador in Washington simply for implementing her legitimate government's policy and participating in US-led negotiations," a spokesperson said.
Washington said the military judiciary should instead focus on Hezbollah members it accused of plotting against the Lebanese government and called for an end to laws and practices it said enabled the politically motivated targeting of civilians and diplomats.
The case has also reignited debate over Lebanon's longstanding law banning dealings with Israel, which has faced renewed scrutiny since Beirut began direct US-mediated negotiations with Israel earlier this year.
Several Lebanese politicians opposed to Hezbollah rallied behind Moawad.
Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel described the referral as "unacceptable" and "a dangerous precedent".
"Lebanese diplomacy must not be subjected to political calculations," he said. "What is needed is to protect institutions, not intimidate them."
Bazzi, however, told The New Arab that the complaint raised a legitimate issue requiring judicial scrutiny.
"We have no vindictive objective," he said. "There is an incident that requires investigation."
He argued that prosecutors could have dismissed the complaint if they considered it without merit, and said any evidence of contact outside Moawad's authorised negotiating role could raise questions under Lebanon's boycott legislation.
Bazzi also criticised the US response as interference in Lebanon's judiciary and sovereignty.
Moawad is a central member of Lebanon's negotiating delegation with Israel, led by former ambassador Simon Karam.
She and Leiter met at the US State Department in September as part of talks on implementing the framework agreement signed on 26 June.
The negotiations have been politically contentious in Lebanon, particularly as Israel continues military operations and maintains forces in parts of southern Lebanon despite months of diplomacy.