Khalil Says Bitar 'Met Foreign Delegation', Threatens Major 'Escalation'

Ex-minister and incumbent MP Ali Hassan Khalil considered the arrest warrant issued against him by the judicial investigator Tarek Bitar “illegal.”

“It is not based on any legal justification,” he said Tuesday, in a televised interview.

He claimed that “the warrant was prepared in advance and was leaked to the media before it was issued by the judicial investigator.”

Khalil accused Bitar of “politicization” and said that the judge is “influenced by public opinion and populism.”

“Based on his media statements and side interviews, Bitar does not meet the qualities that a judge in charge of such a case should have,” khalil said.

He added that “after issuing the arrest warrant, Bitar met with a foreign delegation that has nothing to do with the Lebanese judiciary,” and that “the same thing happened when an arrest warrant was issued against ex-minister Youssef Fenianos.”

“Things cannot continue in this way,” Khalil said “otherwise, it will threaten the stability in the country and induce further escalation.”

A Cabinet session was suspended Tuesday and adjourned to Wednesday, after a heated debate over a demand by the ministers of Hizbullah, Amal Movement and Marada Movement for a stance on Bitar.

“The matter is in the hands of the Cabinet,” he said. “I hope for understanding from the ministers, because the aim is taking all measures to correct the judicial path.”

He stressed that "all possibilities are open for a political escalation, and maybe an escalation of another kind.”

“The coming days will reveal many moves to correct the judicial path, save the investigation and secure a right atmosphere for reaching the truth," he said.

"There is a major attempt for civil strife in the behavior of Bitar,” he added.

“It might be a part of a regional and local plan related to changing balances."

“We want to spare the country from reaching this impasse,” Khalil went on to say, adding that he “pities Bitar for what he put himself into.”