Hamas rejects Arab League labelling Hezbollah 'terrorists'

Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas rejected on Monday an Arab League resolution labelling Lebanon's Hezbollah a terrorist organisation.

In a statement the party said it "rejects the description of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement as terrorist."

Instead, it added, Israel's actions against Palestinians should be labelled "terrorism."

It also called on Arab states to "support the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people" and urged them to work together to solve their differences through dialogue.

On Sunday Arab League members adopted a resolution saying they would hold the "terrorist Lebanese Hezbollah... responsible for supporting terrorism and terrorist organisations in Arab countries, with modern weapons and ballistic missiles".

The resolution came amid soaring tensions between regional arch-rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, Shiite Hezbollah's backer.

Sunni Muslim powerhouse Saudi Arabia and Iran, the predominant Shiite power, have for decades stood on opposing sides of conflicts in the Middle East including in Syria and Yemen.

Despite being Sunni, Hamas has long been seen as an ally of Iran.

Hamas has fought three wars with Israel since 2008, while Hezbollah fought the Jewish state in 2006.

Source: AFP