The former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, expressed “concerns that Lebanon may not be able to escape the possibility of a widening circle of war” between Hamas and Israel.
In an interview with Politico magazine on Friday, Jumblatt said he was working with the head of the PSP, his son Taymour Jumblatt, to “make the necessary logistical efforts to accommodate those displaced from areas that could be targeted in the event of an Israeli attack on Lebanon.” He stressed that “the villages of the mountain will be open to all, whether Shia, Sunni or Christian.”
The Druze leader also criticized “the lack of wise world leadership,” blaming the current crisis on Washington “which does not take into account the right of the Palestinians to have an independent state.”
Commenting on US President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel, Jumblatt said he was concerned by his statements, which he said reflected “an abandonment of the role of the United States as an honest mediator in the conflict.” He said he “regretted the absence of leaders such as former US Secretary of State James Baker, former French President Jacques Chirac and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.”
Joumblatt also said he had met with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss ways to bring the situation in southern Lebanon under control. “The Lebanese have become mere spectators of a disaster that could engulf them,” he noted.
The Druze leader also argued that “crushing Hamas” according to the American plan “will not solve the problem.” “We have to go back to the basics, which is the two-state solution. We must also have a broader vision,” said Jumblatt, who once again criticized “the American escalation, whether in terms of rhetoric or by sending two aircraft carriers to the Mediterranean” as a sign of support for Israel.
“Why send two large aircraft carriers to the region? Is it for peaceful purposes? Is it to keep the peace?” asked Jumblatt. He stated that this move “reduces the possibility that the meetings scheduled for Saturday in Cairo will lead to a solution.” Because, he said, “the people who are meeting are not the main players. They have no influence. The main players are Israel, Iran and the United States.”
When asked what would happen if Israel invaded Gaza, Joumblatt replied, “The decision will be in the hands of Hezbollah and Iran.”
