Arab-Israeli factions slam Gulf states for defining Hezbollah as terror group

Two Arab-Israeli factions that make up the Joint List announced Monday that they condemn the decision of the Gulf states to define Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

The harline Balad faction said in a statement that "Hezbollah fights against the Israeli offensive against Lebanon, and this decision [to define it as a terrorist organization] serves Israel and the United States."

Balad argued that "no criticism on Hezbollah's involvement in Syria justifies this dangerous decision, which serves Israel and her allies who do not hide their colonialist aspirations in Palestine, Lebanon and the rest of the Arabic homeland."

Hadash, led by Joint List head Ayman Odeh, also condemned the decision, attacking Saudi Arabia for spearheading the effort to blacklist Hezbollah.

"After Saudi Arabia failed in its attempt to harness Lebanese society and political forces against Hezbollah by halting its military aid to Lebanon and after the Syrian people have succeeded in keeping Syria united, comes the decision to label Hezbollah as a terrorist organization that proves that Gulf States are totally loyal to neo-colonialist and Zionist forces, the enemies of Arabs," he said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on Monday evening, asking the Balad and Hadash MKs: "Will you continue condemning [the Gulf states] when Hezbollah are firing rockets at your villages?

"Have you lost your minds?" he asked the MKs, before apologizing for the phrasing.

"They want to destroy the state of which you are citizens," Netanyahu continued. "I can say that many countries in our region now understand more than ever that Israel is not their enemy and is on their side in their fight against Iran and Islamic State.

"There is huge potential in these new points of contact... I hope that these ties will also help in advancing our relations with the Palestinians, or at least those who want to live with us in peace," the prime minister added.

Responding to Netanyahu's comments, the Hadash party on Monday night published a message slamming Netanyahu for "again inciting against Arabs in Israel."

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid responded: "These Knesset members are a disgrace to the Knesset and to the State of Israel. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and whoever decides to support such a group is a part of the cycle of terror. They have blood on their hands just as much as the terrorists themselves do."

Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman said in response that the "condemnation by Hadash and Balad is already a step beyond absurd and just proves again that with every that day that passes and a group of terrorists continues to sit in the Knesset, it is a disgrace to democracy."

"Now it turns out that the Joint Arab List does not only represent the most extremists elements among Israeli Arabs but the most extreme in the entire Arab world," he said.

The factions were responding to an announcement made last week by Gulf monarchies who declared Hezbollah a "terrorist" group, in the latest regional move against the Shiite organisation fighting in support of Syria's regime.

The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council took the action against Hezbollah members because of "hostile actions of the militia who recruit the young people (of the Gulf) for terrorist acts," GCC Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani said in a statement.

Zayani cited "their terrorist acts and incitement in Syria, Yemen and in Iraq", which he said were threatening Arab security.

Gulf nations have taken a series of measures against Hezbollah since Saudi Arabia last month halted a $3 billion program funding French military supplies to Beirut.

Lebanon's prime minister had urged Saudi Arabia to reconsider the decision, saying that "we were very sad to hear the Saudi kingdom's surprising decision to halt aid to the army and the internal security forces," Tammam Salam said in a statement, adding he hoped for "the review of the decision."

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said on Sunday that no Arab regime will be able to normalize ties with Israel after reports of their strengthening relations with the Jewish State.

"Israel will never be an ally to Arabs, no Arab regime will be able to normalize ties with Israel" Hassan Nasrallah said in a speech which was delivered during a ceremony marking one week since the funeral of Hezbullah commander Ali Fayyad, who was killed fighting in Syria's Aleppo province.

The speech, which focused mainly on Saudi Arabia and its allies comes shortly after Israel's Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon touted Israel's secret ties with Arab states.

Addressing the Arab regimes such as Saudi Arabia, Nasrallah said that Lebanon does "not want anything from you. We do not want money, arms or support, just leave this resistance, country and people alone" and that those regimes have always plotted against those who stood against Israel.

"Would the Arab regime dare to provide the Resistance with weapons?," asked Nasrallah, adding that "what protects this country is its army, people and resistance and those who expect that the Arab League or Arab consensus can prevent Israel from attacking Lebanon are delusional."
 [i24news.tv]
7/3/16