The Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ambassador Hossam Zaki, affirmed that his previous stance on "Hezbollah" is associated with several unfavorable and unsuccessful circumstances. He indicated that he wants to move past this stance entirely, as there have been many interpretations and analyses made about it, which mostly stray far from the truth and sound analysis of the matters.
Zaki reiterated, "I want to completely move beyond this position because there has been a significant misunderstanding by several parties, whether intentionally or unintentionally; I do not want to delve into everyone's intentions." He believed that after many years of estrangement, the Arab League wished to engage with "Hezbollah" due to certain conditions, primarily the war and the presidential vacancy. This led to a meeting with the head of "Hezbollah's" parliamentary block, Muhammad Raad. As for the classification of the party as terrorist or not, it is an issue that has been imposed on the media agenda and was not a priority, emphasizing that there was and still is hope to facilitate the election of a president for Lebanon.
Zaki denied having asked "Hezbollah" to cease hostilities but confirmed that although councils and dialogues are trusts, during his meeting with Muhammad Raad, he conveyed a message stressing the need for extreme caution. This is because the Arab League is monitoring Israeli intentions to escalate the war, and this warning is based on assessments and information from the Arab League, not relayed from any other party.
In his remarks on the Lebanese scene program, Zaki stated, "Muhammad Raad said that for Hezbollah, the war is an unpleasant one, and the party wants it to stop at any moment, but their stance is clear: they link the southern front with the Gaza front, and this matter is in the hands of the Israeli aggressor."
Zaki denied that the Arab League has any role in negotiations between Israel and Hamas to halt the war, wishing success for Egypt and Qatar in their negotiation efforts. He noted that some progress seems to have recently occurred, and today the situation appears more positive than in the past, "but experience has taught me personally that any agreement or understanding is not guaranteed unless it is implemented."
He added, "It is too early to say that negotiations between Israel and Hamas have reached a solution stage, but we hope for this in the interest of the Palestinian people who are historically steadfast in the Gaza Strip." Regarding the presidential file, Zaki asserted that there is no initiative from the Arab League to end the presidential vacancy in Lebanon due to the complicated and tangled internal Lebanese situation, to the extent that it sabotages any initiative even before it is launched. There is a collapse of trust among the Lebanese, and it is shameful for any state not to be able to agree on a name for its presidency for 20 months.
