Former MP and leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, discussed recent developments in an interview with the newspaper "L'Orient-Le Jour," talking about his meeting with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein. Jumblatt said, "The Americans are demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. But at the same time, they are throwing food aid into the sea, which means that despite international pressures, the war continues. We cannot impose conditions for a ceasefire, and for this reason, the powerful United States seems incapacitated."
He continued, "The same applies in Lebanon; the Americans cannot impose a ceasefire on us without negotiating the 1949 ceasefire agreement. This agreement remains very valid, in my opinion. This was a point I raised during my meeting with Mr. Hochstein."
Jumblatt added, "The terms of the ceasefire stipulate the deployment of regular armies on both sides of the border. If the Americans and Israelis want Hezbollah to withdraw to a distance of 10 or 12 kilometers north of the Litani River, Hezbollah has the right to demand a withdrawal and an end to daily violations of Lebanese airspace, until the implementation of the ceasefire. But of course, all this must be done in coordination and planning with the Lebanese state."
Jumblatt noted that "the Americans express the Israeli position. They are concerned about Israelis who left their homes. In the same way, we are concerned about 100,000 Lebanese who were forced to leave southern Lebanon, after the massive destruction that affected the villages (following the Israeli strikes). You have to see things from both sides."
He continued, "We just have to start from where we were in 2006. After the July war, there was a fait accompli and Resolution 1701 was adopted. Today, the Americans want to apply this text and the deployment of the army in the south. Very good. We agree with them on this point."
Jumblatt stated, "But I asked Mr. Hochstein if the United States could increase its (financial) assistance to the army. He replied that currently he would not be able to pass such a proposal through Congress. Why? I don't know. It's very strange."
Regarding Hochstein's meeting with opposition MPs, Jumblatt said, "I think it was to hear another opinion in the country."
