Monday, March 14, 2011

Is Saudi Arabia Supporting Hezbollah

Gulf Issues center mentioned on Monday that outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri was reproached by Saudi King Abdallah ben Abdel Aziz during their secret meeting in Riyadh on March 6.

The Saudi King expressed his discontent regarding Hariri's campaign against Hezbollah's weapons and voiced concern regarding Hezbollah's reaction to the campaign, and its repercussions on Prime Minister Designate Najib Mikati and the Saudi-Syrian relations.

The center quoted a report published by "Gulf" newspaper as saying that the Saudi King criticized the unjustified campaign Hariri launched against Hezbollah, and said the Saudi Kingdom may not be able to handle its repercussions.

The sources denied the oil-rich Kingdom was supporting the campaign and said Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, was playing a negative role in this regard.

The sources added that the GCC's position regarding Premier Designate Mikati, announced last week, was a message that the Saudi Kingdom was not behind Hariri's campaign and the Gulf countries are committed to the Lebanese sovereignty. Moreover, the sources reported that the campaign against Hariri's owned company "Saudi Oger" is a message to the outgoing PM to keep the situation in control without endangering the Saudi interests.

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