Hamas Slams Arab League for Terrorist Labeling of Hezbollah

Rasa - Palestinian Hamas movement slammed Arab League for labeling Lebanon's Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

News ID: 434909

Date: 21 November 2017 - 21:52

RNA - A statement released by the Gaza-based Hamas said it "rejects the description of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement as terrorist", Shafaqna reported.

The Palestinian movement added that instead of Hezbollah, Israel's actions against Palestinians should be labeled "terrorism."

Hamas also called on Arab states to "support the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people," urging them to work together to solve their differences through dialogue.

Also, the Lebanese government and Palestinian resistance forces have strongly condemned a decision by the Arab League to designate the Hezbollah resistance movement as a terrorist organization.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmad Aboul Gheit announced at a media conference in Cairo on Sunday that Arab states agreed to designate Hezbollah a terrorist organization, adding that he would not “rule out going to the United Nations Security Council as a next step.”

Lebanon’s representative to the Arab League, Antoine Azzam, rejected the statement, saying Hezbollah represents a large part of the Lebanese people. He said the resistance group has representatives in the Lebanese parliament.

Palestinian resistance groups also denounced the Arab League’s decision, saying it serves the interests of Israel and the US and aims to satisfy the Saudi regime.

The alliance of the Palestinian resistance forces described the decision as “dangerous”, stressing that “Hezbollah represents the most important resistance force against Israel and terrorism.”

The decision was issued during an emergency Arab League summit, which Saudi Arabia called to discuss "confronting" Iran and Hezbollah.

Riyadh associates Hezbollah with Iran, and has been trying to weaken the resistance movement which is Lebanon's de facto deterrent force against any Israeli aggression.

847/940