Arab League Deputy Secretary General Houssam Zaki speaking from the presidential palace in Baabda. (Credit: 2021/NNA)
The Arab League has clarified its position on Hezbollah, following remarks by Deputy Secretary-General Hossam Zaki during a televised interview on al-Qahera News. Speaking the day after a visit to Beirut, Zaki had stated that "the Arab League no longer considered Hezbollah a terrorist entity," a comment that sparked surprise and reactions.
In a statement addressed to "editors-in-chief accredited to the League," Zaki asserted that his comments had been "interpreted out of context." While not denying his previous remarks, he explained that the position expressed "in no way means the disappearance of numerous reservations and objections regarding the behavior, policy, actions, and positions of the party, not only internally but also regionally." He emphasized that the League remains firmly committed to its position "adopted unanimously" at the Nouakchott summit in July 2016, which calls for "the maintenance of Arab national security and the fight against terrorism." This stance stipulates that Arab states must refrain from supporting, either "explicitly or implicitly," any "entity or person involved in terrorist acts."
Arab League reiterates solidarity with Lebanon
In the same statement, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit reaffirmed that the General Secretariat "has always been committed to fully implementing the resolutions of the states [in the Arab League] in all fields." He noted that Zaki's visit to Lebanon, as a personal envoy to communicate with Lebanese political forces, aligned with the solidarity expressed towards Lebanon at the last Arab summit in Manama in May.
During his television interview, Zaki clarified that what appeared to be a softening of the Arab League's position towards Hezbollah was intended to revive dialogue — which has been suspended since 2016 — between the Arab states and the party. He added that the organization "does not resort to labeling entities as terrorist organizations and does not adopt such lists."
Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization by Washington and the European Union.
Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging near-daily fire at the border between southern Lebanon and northern Israel since Oct. 8, 2023, the day after the war in Gaza began. Supported by Iran, Hezbollah's growing influence in Lebanon has cooled diplomatic relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Beirut since 2010.