On Monday, the Lebanese Foreign Minister has expressed strong objection to the statement of five Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia. Lebanon is supporting the Palestinians in a confrontation between Israel and the Palestinians, but the countries making statements in support of Palestine are also seen to be embroiled in each other.
Earlier, on 16 May, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Countries, regarding Israel, and Bahrain, UAE had come under attack.
The Turkish and Palestinian representatives criticized the UAE and Bahrain for normalizing relations with Israel. Turkey and Pakistan are the most aggressive about Israel but very balanced statements are coming from Saudi and UAE.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe has created a huge controversy and tension over what he said about Saudi Arabia in a TV interview on Monday.
In this case, Lebanese President Michel Ion has to be cleaned up and he said that his foreign minister's statement about the Gulf countries is not official policy of Lebanon.
Lebanon gets help from the Gulf countries, but the relationship seems to be derailed due to the foreign minister's explosive statement.
Foreign Minister Charbel had blamed the Gulf countries for the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria with Al Hurra TV. Charbel had said, "The countries that want friendship and brotherhood, they brought the Islamic State here."
Lebanon has not recovered from the economic crisis due to the civil war that lasted from 1975 to 1990. When Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon increased, financial aid from the rich Sunni Muslim countries of the Gulf also stopped. Hezbollah is a Lebanese extremist group and is said to be supported by the Shia Muslim-majority country Iran. Saudi Arabia has strongly objected to the Lebanese foreign minister's remarks and summoned the Lebanese ambassador
The Saudi Foreign Ministry has said that a memorandum has been submitted to the Lebanese ambassador. Saudi Arabia has said on Charbel's statement, "This statement is against the basic rules of diplomatic relations." It is also against the historic brotherhood relationship between Lebanon and Saudi, " he said. Kuwait, Bahrain and UAE have also summoned Lebanese ambassadors and held protest letters.
The UAE Foreign Ministry has opposed the Lebanese foreign minister's statement, saying, "The Lebanese acting foreign minister has made objectionable and racist statements." Charbel's statement is against the countries of Saudi Arabia and the rest of the country. We have submitted a memorandum to the Lebanese ambassador in protest. "
As the controversy escalated, Charbel said on Tuesday that his statement had been misinterpreted. Six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council have asked Charbel to make a formal apology. According to news agency Reuters, there is talk of resignation from foreign minister in Lebanon. However, no decision has been made regarding this till now.
Saad al-Hariri is the designated Sunni Prime Minister of Lebanon and is currently trying to form a cabinet. Hariri's family also owns property in Saudi. He has said on the whole controversy that Arab support is very important. He said that in the crisis that Lebanon is going through now, it is sad to annoy the Arabs.
On Monday night, the Lebanese foreign minister used an objectionable word for a Saudi Arabian guest on TV. The Saudi guest criticized the Lebanese president for the growing influence of Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon in a TV program.
Guest from Saudi said in the TV program, "I will not accept it. I am in Lebanon and I am being humiliated by being called Baddu (a tribe of Arabia). " In this debate, Charbel also said that the Gulf countries promoted the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
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