May 16, 2021
Seven Lebanese Sanctioned by the United States
Young Professionals Leaving Lebanon
Fruit and Vegetables Ripening While Saudi Ban Still in Place

Seven Lebanese Sanctioned by the United States
On Tuesday, the United States imposed sanctions on seven Lebanese who are tied to Hezbollah. The US Treasury Department called six of the seven Hezbollah’s “shadow bankers” who have transferred about $500 million for the group over the past decade.The seventh person sanctioned is Ibrahim Daher, who is a chief financial executive for Hezbollah. [Associated Press]

ANALYSIS

“Sanctions should not be the only element of a US-Lebanon policy, but part of a larger diplomatic effort led by the United States and its allies to push for a reform government capable of addressing the needs of its citizens. Sanctions should not target one political party, religion, or group. The threat of sanctions, and those enforced and implemented, are best coordinated by the United States and its allies on individuals who are most likely to be susceptible to US and European financial entities.”
-ATFL President Edward M. Gabriel

Young Professionals Are Leaving Lebanon
Since the economic and financial crises in Lebanon began in 2019, thousands have left the country. It seems those who can afford to leave are leaving. This includes Lebanon’s young professional class such as much-needed doctors, engineers, pharmacists, and bankers. [Associated Press]

ANALYSIS

“The costs of Lebanon’s disastrous state keep mounting as its professionals, young people, graduates, and others who can head away from their miserable present and uncertain future. Almost all social classes are affected, either because they can’t access their bank deposits to have some quality of life or there are no more jobs to support families. Proposals to formalize capital controls are too little too late – leaving people with few alternatives since the amounts will be insufficient to rebuild their lives in Lebanon. Emigration beckons, and Lebanon is the loser.”
-ATFL Policy Director Jean AbiNader

Fruit and Vegetables Ripening While Saudi Ban Still in Place
Lebanon’s fruit and vegetable crops are getting ready for harvest. Farmers, especially in the Bekaa region, have become worried about their market since Saudi Arabia’s produce ban on the country. About one quarter of Lebanon’s 400,000 tons in fruit and vegetable exports go to Saudi Arabia each year. [Reuters]

ANALYSIS

“Lebanon has so few sources of income that the ban on agricultural exports has become another catastrophe for the country. The greed of cartels that control the Bekaa region is to blame. Not satisfied with their dominance of the hashish production, they want to taint everything Lebanese with their corruption. I hope the farmers aren’t waiting for the drug lords to compensate them for siphoning off the agricultural exports for drug trafficking. Where is the leadership to help the farmers of Bekaa and the people of Lebanon reclaim their lives?”
-ATFL Policy Director Jean AbiNader

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.