Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari met on Wednesday numerous delegations of Lebanese politicians and public figures who expressed solidarity with the Kingdom after an insult addressed by resigned Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbi against Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.
Bukhari denied rumors that his country was planning to expel the Lebanese from its territories, as a reaction to Wehbi’s comments, emphasizing the Kingdom’s adherence to humanitarian values.
In a television interview, Wehbi accused Gulf countries of financing the ISIS terrorist movement. His remarks stirred a wave of angry reactions, while a large number of political and popular delegations visited the Saudi ambassador in an expression of solidarity with the Kingdom.
Grand Mufti Abdullatif Derian was the first to arrive at Bukhari’s residence, stressing in comments that the resigned foreign minister’s remarks harmed Lebanon as much as its brotherly countries.
Strongly denouncing the insult, Derian said that Saudi Arabia and the rest of Gulf countries have always stood by Lebanon and hoped that the crisis would be resolved through wise steps and serious and radical measures against Wehbi.
In turn, Minister of Interior in the caretaker government, Mohammad Fahmi, condemned statements issued against the Kingdom, pointing out that Saudi Arabia was the safety valve for all Arab countries, including Lebanon.
A delegation from Al-Mustaqbal Movement, led by MP Bahia Hariri, also visited Bukhari on Wednesday.
Hariri affirmed loyalty to “the Kingdom of goodness for standing by Lebanon over long decades,” adding that Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states “have never abandoned our country, nor did they distinguish between the Lebanese components.”
The visiting delegations also included a group of deputies representing the Lebanese Forces (LF).
LF MP Pierre Bou Assi accused some politicians of seeking to “destroy relations and bridges that our grandparents, parents and new generation have built.”
“Such racist words harm Lebanon’s interests, its identity and its relationship with the Kingdom and the friendly and brotherly Gulf Cooperation Council countries,” he underlined.
Bukhari also received MP Taymour Jumblatt, heading a delegation of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), a delegation from the Press Syndicate and another from the Saudi-Lebanese Business Council.
