Hadash and Balad, two of three Arab parties making up the Joint List, issued separate statements slamming the March 3 decision by the Gulf Cooperation Council to include Hezbollah on the GCC's list of terrorist organizations. Whereas Balad’s statement also included criticism of Hezbollah and its involvement in the war in Syria, Hadash’s carefully worded statement could not be construed any other way than as support for the Shiite organization.
Published only in Arabic, Hadash’s statement condemned the GCC as well as Arab interior ministers, claiming they serve Israel’s interests and the ongoing occupation. The photo attached to the condemnation — Lebanese demonstrators waving a Hezbollah flag on the Lebanese border against the backdrop of Israeli communities in the north — gives rise to a strong sense that Hadash did issue a statement in support of Hezbollah.