Former head of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, emphasized the need for a ceasefire in Gaza, stating that if a ceasefire occurs, it would also apply to Lebanon and potentially spare the country from a broader war. These efforts are being sought by Jordanian King Abdullah, the Egyptian president, the Emir of Qatar, and many others, but the important factor is the outcome.
In a televised interview, Jumblatt pointed out that "the war is expanding, the initial rules of engagement have changed, and the bombardment is affecting almost all areas of Lebanon." He mentioned that some media outlets are promoting the war, claiming that Beirut Airport has become a depot for arms and missiles, which he described as disgraceful and dangerous, as if some are desiring war both within and outside Lebanon. He considered the timing of these reports to be linked to "some troubled media wanting war inside and out without caring for the fate of the Lebanese and the innocents and the airport," recalling past events in 1982 and 2006, in both cases involving Israeli occupation of Beirut and the south, which ultimately failed and led to the destruction of Lebanon.
Jumblatt added, "I did not accuse anyone in Lebanon; I mentioned some infiltrated media. Those who desire war are Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is challenging the world with his war on Gaza today and continues to do so. Therefore, King Abdullah II's efforts in contacting the Egyptian president and the Qatari Emir, among others, to stop the war and communicate with the outside world are very important."
He noted that "lines of communication with Hezbollah are not severed; they exist," but commented that Netanyahu's attempts during Barack Obama's presidency to avoid a large Israeli-Iranian war were rebuffed after former President Donald Trump canceled the international nuclear agreement with Iran, reverting back to previous tensions. Jumblatt anticipated that next week Netanyahu would be in Congress, showcasing the same display under even harsher conditions than in the past, and expressed uncertainty whether the outgoing U.S. administration could restrain this ambition that might lead to a major regional war.
"I don't see seriousness in the American position, especially during the presidential election phase. Both Trump and Joe Biden seek the approval of AIPAC, which is the American Zionist Israeli tool," he continued. He commented that during the nine months of the war in Gaza, no serious American efforts have been made except for attempts to alleviate the situation, which have resulted in nothing.
Jumblatt stated, "I foresee the expansion of the war." He pointed out that "if we follow Hezbollah's logic, the party said it stands in solidarity with Hamas and will stop the war in southern Lebanon if the war in Gaza stops, so let's proceed with this logic and see."
Regarding the presidential file, Jumblatt said, "The important thing is to reach a settlement; no internal faction in Lebanon can impose a president. The president must result from an internal settlement, and this is what I explained to King Abdullah, who understands this." He viewed that "the settlement occurs through the dialogue called for by President Nabih Berri, but there is a faction of Lebanese, as I've been told, that refuses dialogue, and thus we remain in a vicious cycle."
