Arab League works as tool against Muslim nations: Syria

This file picture shows a view of Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates building in the capital Damascus. (Photo by Sana)

Syria has strongly denounced the closing statement of the latest Arab League foreign ministers’ meeting in Cairo, saying the so-called league, backed by petrodollars of “sheikhdoms”, has been turned into a “tool” against Muslim nations.

An official source at Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates made the remarks in a statement, carried by Syria's official news agency SANA on Tuesday, adding that the money of oil sheikhs was also being used against the security of Muslim countries in order to advance the agendas of the Muslims’ enemies.

On Sunday, the Arab League foreign ministers held an extraordinary general meeting in the Egyptian capital at the request of Saudi Arabia. At the end of the meeting, the participants issued a statement accusing Iran of interfering in the internal affairs of the countries in the region and pursuing aggressive policies against Arab states.

The so-called resolution further stated that Arab states had agreed to designate Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement a “terrorist organization”, accusing it of supporting “terrorist groups” across the Middle East.

Tehran strongly rejected the allegations and described the league’s statement as “worthless” and as being “full of lies and distortions.” Secretary General of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah also categorically rejected Arab League’s claims.

The Syrian official also appreciated the efforts made by Iran and Hezbollah to curb Takfiri terrorist groups in the Arab country, saying that Arab nations are also well aware of the sacrifices made by the pair in foiling Israel’s plans for the region and in resisting Zionist “expansionist aggression.”   

The accusations leveled by Saudi-dominated Arab League against Hezbollah echoes exactly what Israel alleges against the resistance movement, strongly suggesting Riyadh is trying hard to help the Israeli entity by weakening Hezbollah.  

In an apparent reference to Saudi Arabia, the Syrian official also said “Whoever provided all forms of support for Takfiri terrorism and committed genocide against the Yemeni people does not have the credibility to speak about Arab national security because it is itself the real threat to the interests of the Muslim nations and Arab national security.”

On Monday, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas slammed the Arab League for labeling Lebanon's Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. A statement released by the Gaza-based Hamas said it “rejects the description of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement as terrorist.”

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.