BEIRUT: The Cabinet emerged unscathed Wednesday from a crisis sparked by Hezbollah’s criticism of Prime Minister Tammam Salam’s speech at the Arab summit, with ministers opting to set their differences aside over the Yemen war and stressing the need for the government to work in unity.

“The ministers voiced their viewpoints on the issues under discussion. The discussions ended with all [ministers] affirming their confidence in the prime minister and their keenness on the Cabinet to continue its work in order to preserve the supreme national interest,” Information Minister Ramzi Joreige told reporters after a three-hour session chaired by Salam at the Grand Serail.

Despite the 10-month-old presidential vacuum, the Cabinet appointed Mount Lebanon Governor Fouad Fleifel as the Cabinet’s new secretary-general, replacing Suhail Bouji, who retires on April 26.

Two rival ministers, Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi from the Future Movement and Industry Minister Hussein Hajj Hasan from Hezbollah, acknowledged that the Cabinet discussions were civilized, with each side expressing its views without tension.

When Salam wrapped up the ministers’ discussions with his own presentation, he won applause from Cabinet members.

“The discussions took place in a serious and objective manner. I and Minister [of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mohammad] Fneish presented Hezbollah’s viewpoint on the prime minister’s stance on the Yemen issue at Sharm el-Sheikh,” Hajj Hasan told reporters.

Referring to the Saudi-led military intervention against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, Hajj Hasan said: “The conflict in Yemen is an internal political one among several parties … An Arab state decided to intervene. But why did Pakistan and Turkey intervene?”

“We don’t consider what happened [at the Arab summit] reflected the Cabinet’s stance. The Cabinet’s stance is taken by the Cabinet combined and we are a main part of it,” he added.

Stressing that Hezbollah’s stance outlined in the Cabinet session was not meant to undercut the prime minister’s prerogatives or position, Hajj Hasan said: “Prime Minister Salam’s response was positive and showed understanding. The session atmosphere was positive and objective.”

Hajj Hasan had criticized Salam’s speech at the Arab summit held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh last week, arguing it justified the “aggression on Yemen and its people.” He said Salam’s stance, which also supported the Arab leaders’ decision to form “a joint Arab force,” did not represent Lebanon’s official position.

In his speech at the summit, Salam said Lebanon supported “the formation of a joint Arab force to fight terrorism and safeguard pan-Arab security.” This was viewed as implicit support for Saudi action in Yemen.

Speaking during the Cabinet session, Salam touched on Lebanon’s participation at the Arab summit, saying that his position expressed the country’s “keenness on Arab solidarity and strengthening relations with Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia,” Joreige said.

He added that Salam told the Cabinet that he expressed “Lebanon’s keenness on distancing itself from regional axes and struggles.”

Speaking after the Cabinet session, Rifi said Hajj Hasan inquired about the roles played by Turkey and Pakistan in sparking the conflict, while neglecting the role played by Iran, Rifi added.

“We consider the Iranian role [in the region] to be crucial in inciting sectarian sentiments. The struggle should be an Arab-Israeli one instead of being, as I see it, an Arab-Persian one,” Rifi said.

Meanwhile, the Saudi ambassador to Lebanon, Ali Awad Asiri, refuted Hezbollah accusations that his country was obstructing the election of a president in Lebanon.

“I regret to hear that the kingdom is the one that is obstructing the Lebanese presidential election. There are some who have left the country without a president for more than 11 months,” Asiri said in an interview with Future TV Wednesday night.

Responding to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah’s claim that Saudi Arabia, through an alleged veto put by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal on MP Michel Aoun’s presidential bid, was blocking the presidential vote, Asiri said: “Prince Saud al-Faisal did not and will not interfere in Lebanese affairs. We hope to see a president [elected] as soon as possible.”

“We have seen a productive and effective government. But it’s time to take a Lebanese decision to elect a president,” Asiri said.

Despite tension with Hezbollah over the Saudi military intervention in Yemen, Asiri said: “The Saudis feel secure in Lebanon.”

Noting that Saudi Arabia has maintained historic relations with Lebanon, he said: “Many Lebanese are living in the kingdom.”