A new series of lawsuits filed by Lebanese ex-government officials on Thursday threatened once again to stall an investigation into the devastating Beirut port blast that has faced fierce opposition from the political establishment.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The investigation into the Aug. 4, 2020, blast that killed more than 215 people, injured thousands, and destroyed large swathes of the city has made little headway amid a smear campaign against probe investigator Judge Tarek Bitar and pushback from powerful factions.
Bitar has sought to question top politicians, including former ministers and members of parliament since July but nearly all have spurned him with some raising legal complaints questioning his impartiality. The row over the probe has paralyzed the cabinet with Prime Minister Najib Mikati suspending sessions until a solution to the standoff is found.
Many Lebanese are angry that more than one year on from the blast no senior official has been held accountable for the country's worst peace-time disaster as it slips into political and economic meltdown.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
