Militia Rebuked by Some Arab Countries

Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan publicly denounced Hezbollah’s escalating violence against Israel, despite the popular anti-Israeli sentiment in their respective countries. While many countries from the Group of 8 Conference, or G-8, in St. Petersburg urge Israel to exercise restraint in carrying out surmounting air strikes on Lebanon and Gaza, Prince Saud al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia calls Hezbollah’s violence “unexpected, inappropriate and irresponsible.” Though Hezbollah is a Lebanese organization, its Shiite leadership is linked with Iran and confrontational anti-Zionism that invites vehement opposition from the US and its Arab allies. Other countries speak on Hezbollah’s behalf, including Syria, Yemen, Algeria and Lebanon. Surging violence in the Middle East stalls economic or political progress in the region and may force some Arab countries to choose sides in a sea of tangled alliances. – YaleGlobal