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Paying the bill Lebanon’s banks made an uncharacteristically political move last month when they decided to fund Lebanon’s contribution to the controversial Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The move follows a decision by Prime Minister Najib Mikati to fund the tribunal in late November through the Higher Relief Council. The decision to pay Lebanon’s share of approximately $32 million was announced by the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL) and will see the country’s top 12 banks, which sit on its board, put up the money. Each bank will pay a share proportionate to their assets, according to the ABL. The ABL justified the move by saying that it would protect depositors’ funds, maintain political stability and help the investment climate in the country. The banks on the ABL’s board are Byblos Bank, BLOM Bank, Bank Audi, BankMed, Fransabank, Banque Libano-Française, Crédit Libanais, Bank of Beirut, SGBL, BBAC, the Lebanese Swiss