Former head of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, stated from the retreat of Sheikh Abu Taher Munir Barakeh in Dhour al-Abadiah: "I do not understand the narrow disputes in the country over a presidency that may or may not happen, and the release of the killer of the Irish soldier is a mistake because the Irish people stand with the Palestinian cause, and it was wrong to release his killer under these circumstances."