Lebanon’s General Directorate of State Security in the Tyre region has arrested a Lebanese man after he posted a TikTok video displaying an Israeli flag. The video, which has since been removed, showed the man selecting the Israeli flag as his “favorite Arab country.”
Lebanese law strictly prohibits citizens from contacting or conducting any form of business with Israelis, with a few exemptions for Christian clerics and families with relatives in Israel. Violating this law can result in legal action, as was the case with the man who posted the TikTok video. The General Directorate of State Security stated that “legal action was carried out against him under the supervision of the competent judiciary.”
This incident highlights the ongoing tension between Lebanon and Israel, as well as the strict enforcement of the boycott of Israel within Lebanon. Last year, Maronite Archbishop of Haifa and the Holy Land, Moussa El-Hage, was detained upon his return from a trip to Israel. He was found to be carrying funds that came from individuals residing in Israel, leading to his arrest under Lebanese laws regarding transactions with Israel.
Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi expressed outrage at the incident involving Archbishop El-Hage and called on officials to stop labeling Lebanese citizens in Israel as “agents.” He also demanded that measures be taken to ensure the archbishop’s freedom of movement between Israel and Lebanon without being subjected to detention or searches.
The arrest of the Lebanese man for displaying the Israeli flag on TikTok serves as a reminder of the strict restrictions placed on interactions between Lebanese citizens and Israelis, and the consequences that can follow for those who violate these regulations.
Definitions:
– TikTok: A social media platform for sharing short videos.
– General Directorate of State Security: A Lebanese security agency responsible for maintaining national security.
Sources: Lebanon Debate, Annahar
