Will US restrictions on Hezbollah lead to collapse of Lebanon?
On a five-day visit to Washington, a Lebanese delegation spoke to US officials about how to prevent collateral damage that could result from legal restrictions on Hezbollah.
BEIRUT — A Lebanese parliamentary delegation met in Washington on Feb. 23-27 with numerous members of Congress, administration officials and various lobbies to discuss the potential consequences for Lebanon of the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015.
The act, which US President Barack Obama signed into law Dec. 18, authorizes the president to apply sanctions against foreign financial institutions handling transactions with Hezbollah or the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV channel.
“It was a very useful and very positive visit," member of parliament Alain Aoun, a delegation member, told Al-Monitor. "The people we met with in Washington reassured the Lebanese members of parliament that there is no need for any Lebanese tense reactions or concerns.”
Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri championed the idea to send a delegation to Washington. On Jan. 16, he called on a number of parliamentarians representing major parliamentary blocs, and discussed the need to spare Lebanon any negative effects from the mentioned act and learn from US officials about Washington’s orientation regarding Lebanon and Hezbollah in the future.
