By Xinhua,
Beirut : Lebanese majority leader Saad Hariri said that it was “intolerant” for some Lebanese leaders to criticize Saudi Arabia’s support for Lebanon, local Naharnet website reported Saturday.
“Saudi Arabia has been supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty and constitutional institutions,” Hariri said in response to criticism against the oil-rich Gulf Arab state made by Suleiman Franjieh, Christian opposition head of al-Marada party.
Saudi Arabia has long been supporting both financially and politically the ruling coalition in Lebanon. Saad Hariri, head of the parliamentary majority bloc in Lebanon, has both Lebanese and Saudi citizenships.
Franjieh, a pro-Syrian Christian leader popular in northern Lebanon, said in an interview with LBC TV Thursday that “Saudi role in Lebanon is like that of Israel.”
“Saudi Arabia is biased, in favor of one group against the other in Lebanon,” he said, praising the role of some countries for keeping good relations with all Lebanese parties.
Franjieh also said he supports Iran’s role in the region, warning that “if Saudi Arabia pumps money into the forthcoming elections (of Lebanon), this would lead Iran and all our friends to contribute money.”