Maha El Dhan and Laila bassam

BEIRUT, (Reuters) – Tensions over a judicial inquiry into last year’s Beirut Port Blast threatens Lebanon to enter yet another political crisis. This will test Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s new government that is trying to save the country from its economic decline.

Over a year after the Beirut explosion, more than 200 people were killed, Judge Tarek Bitar is facing increasing political resistance for his efforts to hold high-ranking officials accountable for negligence.

Ministers aligned with the politicians Bitar has sought to question are expected to press the demand for his removal at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, after the subject disrupted a stormy session on Tuesday https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/beirut-blast-judge-issues-arrest-warrant-ex-finance-minsiter-khalil-2021-10-12.

Analysts warn that it could distract from Mikati who, after more than one year of fighting over cabinet seats, took office last month.

The row has also underlined the major sway of the heavily armed, Iran-backed Shi’ite group Hezbollah, which has called for Bitar to be replaced https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanons-hezbollah-chief-nasrallah-says-beirut-blast-judge-is-politicised-2021-10-11, accusing him of conducting a politicised probe picking on certain people.

Bitar’s most powerful politician, Ali Hassan Khalil (ex-finance minister) said that all avenues were available for political escalation when he was asked Tuesday if some ministers might quit.

Khalil is Nabih Birri’s right-handman and close Hezbollah friend. He is considered the top Shiite in the state. Khalil stated to al-Mayadeen TV, that the probe was threatening to drive Lebanon “towards civil conflict.”

Hezbollah’s Shi’ite ally Amal has pulled its ministers from government during times of conflict. This would be a devastating move for the Sunni-led cabinet that was stripped of Shi’ite representation.

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Mikati previously stated that Lebanon cannot bear to lose a second investigator after the first one was dismissed in February. A court had accepted an impartiality complaint.

Mikati has made it his priority to revive IMF negotiations in order to save Lebanon. With elections coming up next spring, he won’t be able to wait.

Crisis Group, Heiko Wimmen said that row would drain energy. It also made (Mikati’s) appearance weak. “It raises huge questions, or adds another, regarding the viability this government.”

Mohanad Hage Ali from the Carnegie Middle East Center stated that Hezbollah “showed it brute influence, force, and that certainly reflects poorly on Mikati Government”.

Nizar Saghieh of Legal Agenda said that while Bitar is not subject to removal, the government could reverse a prior decision which transferred Bitar’s probe to the judiciar council. This would represent a significant attack on “the separation and consolidation of power”.

Foreign states from which Lebanon hopes to secure aid have called for a transparent investigation https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-security-blast-macron-probe-idUSKCN2522QM into the blast, caused by a huge quantity of unsafely stored ammonium nitrate.

Hezbollah was accused by the U.S. State Department of threat to the judiciary.

Bitar and all the other former officials Bitar sought to interrogate on suspicions of negligence denied any wrongdoing. These include Hassan Diab who was the prime minister during the explosion.

Bitar’s critics claim he violated the Constitution by following senior officials, against whom cases should be referred to a special procedure for presidents or ministers.