Hussein Hoballah never guessed his small Montreal newspaper would end up sparking a major diplomatic incident.

At issue, an interview with Lebanon's ambassador to Canada.

The subject of the discussion was Canada's recent decision to list Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, a move the Lebanese government opposed. Hezbollah is considered a legitimate political party and liberating force in Lebanon.

Ambassador Raymond Baaklini in a small Montreal newspaper

Ambassador Raymond Baaklini blamed Ottawa's ban on what he called a "Zionist group in Canada."

"As you know, this group is controlling 90 per cent of Canadian media, and it receives instructions and assistance from Zionist societies, whether in Canada or abroad," he said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham called the comments unacceptable. But that didn't stop the Lebanese ambassador.

In a second interview, also in Arabic, given to Radio Canada International, Baaklini repeated his claim of "Zionist media control in Canada." But he revised his figure to 40 per cent.

The ambassador singled out the Asper family, owners of The National Post and the Southam chain of newspapers, for making unconditional support of Israeli editorial policy.

When asked if he considered the CBC to be an instrument of Zionism, the ambassador replied, "I can't precisely say yes or no."

On Thursday the foreign affairs minister will meet with ambassador Baaklini to express his concern. But government sources say expelling the diplomat is unlikely. It only happens in highly exceptional circumstances and this isn't one of them.