Independence Movement leader Michel Moawad blamed Friday the government for the deterioration in Saudi-Lebanese ties, arguing that the participation of March 14 parties in a Cabinet including Hezbollah representatives in the absence of a political agreement with the party has resulted in its paralysis.

Moawad added that the Cabinet has come to represent a threat to the interests of the Lebanese people.

“The decision of Saudi Arabia to suspend aid to the Lebanese army and security forces , and to shut down the Saudi Ahli Bank in Lebanon as well as the declaration of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain concerning a re-evaluation of relations with Lebanon due to its positions with regard to  Arab consensus proves beyond any doubt that this Cabinet has caused the worse deterioration of Lebanon’s ties with Arab and Gulf countries in history,” Moawad said.

Moawad voiced  concerns over a further deterioration in Lebanese-Arab ties and its ramifications on the Lebanese expats in Gulf countries if the Cabinet fails to take action to improve relations.

Moawad urged political factions namely Hezbollah to refrain serving the Iranian foreign agenda at the expense of Lebanon’s interests and called on the Cabinet to hold an emergency meeting to realign Lebanon’s foreign policy with Arab consensus.

“Will this government, which has failed by all standards, take action to salvage Lebanon by assuming the right foreign policies or will Lebanon plunge into paralysis ?” Moawad asked.