They hold Lebanon's political elite responsible for the explosion and say many knew of the explosive chemicals improperly stored at the port. Mikati and his Cabinet took office last month.Įlie Hasrouti, whose father was killed in the port explosion, said the families of the victims would not waver in their quest for justice. Lebanon was without a fully functioning government for over a year amid political haggling over its composition and as the nation sunk deeper into an unprecedented financial crisis and economic meltdown. A government-appointed body can, however, take disciplinary action against him.īitar has issued arrest warrants against two former government officials, a rare move against the entrenched political elites in Lebanon, where impunity has prevailed for decades. Only Lebanon’s highest court can remove Bitar. It's unclear how Lebanon's new government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati will react.
Rights groups say the development seeks to discredit the investigation. Hezbollah’s comments were the first to accuse Washington of interfering in the port probe, signaling that the militant group was escalating the campaign against the 46-year-old judge. “Keep your hands off the judiciary,” said the families in a statement. On Wednesday, they warned against removing the judge and demanded the Cabinet to stay out of the judiciary’s affairs. His predecessor was removed earlier this year, when senior government officials implicated in the case filed a lawsuit raising “legitimate suspicion” against him.įamilies of the victims of the port explosion, which killed at least 215 people, injured thousands more and devastated entire neighborhoods of the Lebanese capital, have rallied behind Bitar. He has come under criticism by some politicians for what they say is a politicized and biased line of investigation.īitar is known for having no history of political affiliation. Price accused Hezbollah - designated a terrorist group by Washington - of being “more concerned with its own interests and those of its patron, Iran, than in the best interests of the Lebanese people.”įadlallah said Price's comments are a “new violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty” that expose “the extent of interference aimed at controlling and steering the investigation.”īitar is the second judge to lead the probe into what caused thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate stored in the port for years to detonate. “Hezbollah’s terrorism and illicit activities threaten Lebanon’s security, stability and sovereignty.”
“Judges must be free from threats and intimidation, including (Hezbollah’s),” Price said Tuesday. Price said Washington supports Lebanon’s judicial independence. State Department spokesperson Ned Price's criticism of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's call earlier in the week that called for Bitar's removal. The remarks by Fadallah were in response to U.S. He claimed the United States was interfering in the investigation, seeking to implicate Hezbollah and its allies, and dictating how the probe should go. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadallah, took the criticism a step further Wednesday.