Lebanon wants to point out that Hezbollah can change behaviour, Bahrain minister says

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DUBAI (Reuters) -Bahrain’s international minister, Abdullatif Al Zayani, mentioned on Saturday that Lebanon must display that its highly effective Iran-allied Hezbollah motion can change its behaviour to fix a rift with Gulf Arab states.

Lebanon is dealing with a diplomatic disaster with Gulf states, triggered by a minister’s crucial feedback concerning the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen that prompted Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait to expel Lebanon’s prime diplomats and recall their very own envoys.

Involved about Hezbollah’s rising affect, Gulf states – conventional support donors to Lebanon – have been withholding help to the nation which is struggling a deep financial disaster.

“We (can) prolong help and attempt to discover options sooner or later, however as soon as it’s demonstrated that Hezbollah will be altering its behaviour,” Zayani instructed the IISS Manama Dialogue safety discussion board in Bahrain.

Riyadh, locked in a regional rivalry with Iran, has mentioned its measures final month in opposition to Lebanon, together with an import ban, weren’t solely in response to the minister’s remarks, however have been additionally to display unease over Hezbollah’s “domination” of Lebanese politics.

Lebanon’s newly appointed data minister George Kordahi mentioned his remarks have been made in an interview earlier than he joined the cupboard and has refused to apologise or step down. Hezbollah’s chief has supported him within the diplomatic row and rejected requires his resignation.

(Reporting by Ghaida Ghantous and Alexander Cornwell; Modifying by Andrew Heavens and Ros Russell)



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