Lebanon’s Information Minister George Kordahi announced on Sunday that he won’t resign, following the diplomatic crisis with Gulf Countries triggered by his previous statements over the Yemeni war.
The Minister assured Al Jadeed that his resignation was “out of the question”, despite the backlash.
Kordahi had previously commented on the Yemen war by calling it futile. This provoked outrage in the Arab Gulf, resulting in a critical diplomatic crisis with the once-friendly countries.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain have expelled the Lebanese ambassadors from their countries. The UAE pulled its ambassadors in Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia took even more severe measures, including stopping all imports from Lebanon; exports Lebanon’s already wobbling economy relies on to a big extent, with some $200 million annum at stake.
Several politicians in Lebanon called for Kordahi‘s resignation, emphasizing the importance of relations between Lebanon and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Others have stood with the Information Minister, including Sleiman Frangieh, who said that, despite Kordahi offering his resignation, he won’t allow it.
Frangieh named Kordahi as minister back in September. The leader of the Marada movement said that if Kordahi was removed, he won’t name a replacement.
Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah parliament member, stated that he is against the pressure put on Minister Kordahi.
Meanwhile, the Maronite Patriarch called for President Aoun and PM Mikati to take suitable action to preserve Lebanon’s relations with the GCC.
The Lebanon-Gulf Crisis is exacerbating. Saudi Foreign Minister just declared on Sunday that his country has no interest in relations with Lebanon, calling them counterproductive.
“It is broader than just the comments of one minister. It is an indication of the state of Lebanon is in,” he said about the mounting crises, blaming “Hezbollah’s continuing dominance of the political scene,” and accusing it of training and supplying the Houthi militia in Yemen.
