Hezbollah allies in Lebanon criticize its labeling as a terrorist group by the Arab League

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A poster of Amal leader Nabih Berri, President Michel Aoun and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah
A poster of Amal leader Nabih Berri, President Michel Aoun and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah

Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of the Iranian backed Hezbollah militant group criticized indirectly on Monday the Arab League’s closing statement that named Hezbollah a “terrorist” organization.

“Thanks and sorry…Thank God and sorry that we in Lebanon have fought the Israelis,” said Berri in a post on his Facebook page.

Berri did not make further remarks.

The closing statement of an emergency Arab League meeting on Sunday labeled Hezbollah as “terrorist”, which prompted Hezbollah allies in Lebanon to voice reservations over certain clauses.

The statement accused Hezbollah of “training terrorist groups” in Bahrain, “supporting terrorist groups” in Saudi Arabia, and “supporting terror and terrorist groups in Arab countries with advanced weapons and ballistic missiles.”

Describing Hezbollah as a “partner in the Lebanese government,” the statement also accused the group of “spreading extremism and sectarianism” and “interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.”

Hezbollah ally FM Gebran Bassil skipped the emergency meeting of the Arab League , but Lebanon’s permanent representative at the Arab League Antoine Azzam who attended the meeting made carefully weighed comments at the talks.

While not mentioning Iran by name, he said Lebanon condemned all attacks against Arab nations, but blamed exploitable inter-Arab divisions that allowed international and regional powers to promote their interests.

MP Qassem Hashem who is a member of the Amal movement that is headed by Speaker Berri also rejected the Arab League naming of Hezbollah as a “terrorist” organization, describing the party as a “major component of the Lebanese fabric.”

In an interview with radio VDL (93.3) Hashem said Antoine Azzam is “part of Lebanon’s political society. It constitutes a fundamental part in the Parliament and Cabinet and has its own popular and political weight.”

Hashem added saying that the Arab League “must understand Lebanon’s particularity,” asserting that “Lebanon is keen on having strong and excellent ties with the entire Arab countries.”

“Hezbollah is dealing with all Lebanese issues wisely and positively mainly the recent crisis,” said Hashem, adding “but some issues can not be tolerated, especially external dictates, in light of the seriousness of what we are going through. What is happening today is not normal and we are all concerned with fortifying the internal arena.”

LBCI television said Foreign Minister Bassil , who skipped the meeting , held phone talks with more than 10 Arab foreign ministers and managed to omit from the statement a clause holding “the Lebanese republic” responsible for “Hezbollah’s terrorist acts.”

Arab League

President Michel Aoun is shown meeting on Monday with Arab League chief Ahmed Abu el-Gheit at the Presidential Palace
President Michel Aoun is shown meeting on Monday with Arab League chief Ahmed Abu el-Gheit at the Presidential Palace

Arab League chief Ahmed Abu el-Gheit stressed on Monday that the Arab League is keen on “understanding” Lebanon’s “special composition” after naming Hezbollah a “terror” organization, assuring that no one accepts any harm for the Mediterranean country.

“No one wants to harm Lebanon we understand it has its own particularity,” said Abu el-Gheit after holding a meeting with President Michel Aoun at the Baabda Palace.

“I explained to the President the circumstances that surrounded the Arab League’s meeting and the closing statement,” he added.

Earlier after arriving at the Rafik Hariri International Airport Monday, Abu el-Gheit stressed to reporters that the Arab countries “have great understanding for Lebanon’s position and that they want to spare it from becoming embroiled in conflicts,” National News Agency reported.

Arab diplomatic sources told Al-Joumhouria daily that “it was a coincidence for Abu el-Gheit to travel to Lebanon one day after the Arab League meeting, and that he will participate in a conference invited by the ESCWA for the regional economic commissions in the Arab countries .”

President Aoun reportedly stressed on Monday during talks with the Arab League chief that Lebanon must not “pay the price for regional conflicts.”

“Lebanon is not responsible for the Arab and regional conflicts that some Arab states are witnessing. Lebanon did not carry out any aggression against anyone and it should not pay the price of these conflicts,” Aoun told Abu el-Gheit

The President added: “Lebanon can not tolerate a suggestion that the Lebanese government is a partner in terrorist acts. Lebanon’s stance declared through its representative at the Arab League yesterday expressed a national will.”

Turning to Lebanon’s conflict with Israel and how the country has countered the Israeli aggressions since 1978, Aoun a close ally of Hezbollah said: “Lebanon was able to face the Israeli aggressions since 1978 until the 2006 war. It was able to liberate its land. Israeli threats are still ongoing, the Lebanese have the right to fight and thwart it with all available means.”

Aoun has been defending Hezbollah’s role in defending Lebanon against Israel, but the Arab countries are more concerned about Hezbollah’s interference in their own internal affairs and have been calling on Lebanon to dissociate itself from regional conflicts as stipulated in the Baabda Declaration. According to analysts , Lebanon’s southern border with Israel has been  relatively quiet  since the 2006 war ended,  but Hezbollah has been actively involved in all the regional conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen and has been accused of being behind terrorism cells in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait

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11 responses to “Hezbollah allies in Lebanon criticize its labeling as a terrorist group by the Arab League”

  1. “Aoun has been defending Hezbollah’s role in defending Lebanon against Israel, but the Arab countries are more concerned about Hezbollah’s interference in their own internal affairs and have been calling on Lebanon to dissociate itself from regional conflicts as stipulated in the Baabda Declaration. According to analysts , Lebanon’s southern border with Israel has been relatively quiet since the 2006 war ended, but Hezbollah has been actively involved in all the regional conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen and has been accused of being behind terrorism cells in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait.”
    This summarizes our problem in Lebanon with Aoun and Hezbollah

    1. Hind is defending Hezbollah, don’t ask me why.
      Hezbollah is not a military organisation it is the people as Marwa Osman ‘explain’ for the Hezbollah critics……
      https://youtu.be/yq_LtbtvefM?t=14m40s
      https://twitter.com/AbyadHind/status/932511613122482176

      I guess you summarized your problems in Lebanon with Aoun and Hezbollah crystal clear.

      1. hezbollah needs to go, lebanon needs to be allies with israel for it to go back to its glory days. One army for lebanon in control, not hezbollah doing iran’s business.

        1. and you becoming a minority in a country that rejects the illegal state can you explain to me how or who in Lebanon will negotiate this alliance? Dream on. Start packing.

          1. Not this current list of oldies set in their old ways. We need a government of young people who understand English and are open to world. You can’t expect ago be allies with USA and enemies for Israel much longer. If Lebanon keeps aligning itself with hezbollah, it’s inevitable that Israel will wipe out Lebanon again. They need to make a fresh slate. Politics is fickle, changes with the times. One army for one lebanon.

          2. I am with you 100%. But we have seen what the US gives Lebanon for weapons… Humvees? We cannot even purchase planes because the love will be always one sided. The best course of action for the Lebanese is to look for a different market like China and Russia. You cannot have a polygamy sorry to say, since the US is married to the zionist illegal state. So now you have a conundrum… Hezbollah and the destruction of Lebanon or the US/Israel axis and the destruction of Lebanon. From my angle I see the future of Lebanon with neither. Think outside the box. Go to Russia or China. They are emerging economies. and stay out of all conflict altogether.

      2. Hind Abyad Avatar

        Educate yourself Renée Descartes..

    2. Hind Abyad Avatar

      Involved in all regional conflicts, God forbid fighting ISIS created by
      KSA and Israel.

      “60 Minutes” Highlights Saudi Atrocity in Yemen, Ignores U.S. Role in it”
      https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/11/20/60-minutes-highlights-saudi-atrocity-yemen-ignores-us-role-it

    3. The underlying problem with Aoun is that for some unfathomable reason a majority of Maronites keep supporting him and his repulsive son-in-law.

  2. Hind Abyad Avatar

    Sharmine Narwani on The Corbett Report;
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTwXj2uPdF8&t=233s

  3. Calling Nasrallah’s boot-lickers his “allies” is an insult to everybody’s intelligence.

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