Controversy Grows over Bassil Remarks on Israel
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil has sparked controversy in Lebanon by saying that he does not reject Israel's existence and that Israel “has the right to live in security.”
“We do not have an ideological problem with Israel. We do not reject Israel's existence and its right to live in security. We are only saying that we want all peoples to lives in security and to acknowledge each other,” Bassil said in an interview with the Beirut-based, pan-Arab al-Mayadeen television.
The minister's remarks drew criticism from some politicians and sparked a social media war of words between supporters of the Free Patriotic Movement and Hizbullah.
A statement issued by Bassil's press office said a video circulated on social media was “taken out of context.”
“This curtailment is aimed at distorting Minister Bassil's stance,” the press office said, noting that Bassil considers Israel “an aggressor entity that practices state terrorism.”
“This campaign is aimed at undermining Minister Bassil's stance on Jerusalem at the Arab League,” the press office added.
29 December 2017, 15:55
18
I do not necessarily disagree with his political statement but I take exception to his comeback of lies and filth.
Here is the original video interview at his 'Palace' in Laqlouq and demonstrates his statement word for word. Now, he wants to please hezbollah by saying his comments were “taken out of context.”.
Watch starting at 8:06 into the video
حوار الساعة | وزير خارجية لبنان جبران باسيل | 2017-12-26
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=zbEYrwmaQ88
29 December 2017, 15:57
33
I cannot believe I am agreeing with Bassil's stance and for the first time ever, I do not find what he said as offensive. Go ahead and do not disappoint me and retract that stance. I would rather not stand by you on anything.
29 December 2017, 16:55
03
Never has Lebanon seen an Iranian Foreign Minister like this one, ever!
29 December 2017, 17:56
01
This is inconsistent with Hezbollah's view that Israel must be annihilated. I would expect Hezbollah to depose him if he doesn't reverse himself as he would likely not support Hezbollah/Lebanese starting a war against Israel.
29 December 2017, 18:32
51
He is a so-called Christian, right? So he's saying that Christians are privileged in Lebanon, under Article 24 which gives them half of Parliament even if nobody votes for them, in the same way Jews are privileged in the so-called Jewish state.
You have to speak frankly about a problem before you can get help solving it.
