DPA: Jumblatt remarks spark anger - reconciliation at risk

Middle East Features
By Pakinam Amer
Dec 29, 2006, 17:50 GMT

Beirut - Druze leader Walid Jumblatt's recent statements against Hezbollah have sparked heated criticism from the opposition and applause from some Lebanese government supporters as the end of the 'feasts truce' approaches.

Jumblatt, an ally of Prime Minister Fouad Seniora and of the Future party, recently accused Hezbollah and Syria of plotting assassinations of Lebanese leaders, deeming Hezbollah unpatriotic and 'not Lebanese.'

In the opposition camps, where protestors and opposition members have been holding a sit-in for nearly a month in front of Seniora's office, people said they were used to Jumblatt's controversial statements.

But some pro-Syrian Hezbollah supporters were angry at what they called Jumblatt's 'defamatory' remarks.

A Hezbollah spokesman was quoted as saying that Jumblatt was trying to 'denigrate everything that the resistance (Hezbollah) has stood for.'

Around the camp, even some government supporters voiced doubts that Jumblatt would ever stick to his statements.

'Now (the rival forces) are engaged in verbal fights. But when they reach a deadlock, they will all change their positions and Jumblatt himself will put his hands in the hands of Hezbollah,' said one Sunni Future party supporter.

Others said the criticism of Hezbollah was not new, and that Syria was indeed considered responsible for assassinations of Lebanese leaders - way before Jumblatt's remarks were made.
Jumblatt's statements came after a month-long demonstrations, staged by Shiite Hezbollah, Amal and their Christian ally Michelle Aoun.

The demonstrations were sparked after Seniora approved a UN tribunal to try those suspected of playing a role in the February 2005 bombing that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

A UN inquiry has implicated Syria in the plot against Hariri, who vocally opposed Damascus' then control of the country.

In statements to the pan-Arab Al-Arabiya channel, Jumblatt said that Syria was trying to form another secluded state inside Lebanon - represented in Hezbollah, a movement which, says Jumblatt, owns 'death squads'.

The outspoken leader added that Shiite Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was taking his orders from the Sunni Syrian and Shiite Iranian regimes.

'Is it right that (Bashar) Assad and his men, men like Hassan Nasrallah, create a nation inside the (Lebanese) state? And (for Nasrallah) to take his orders from Syria and Iran?' Jumblatt asked in an al-Arabiya interview.

'(Nasrallah) has his followers, his arms, and his culture - which is against our culture. His culture is one of misery, martyrdom, and sorrow,' he added.

Jumblat took his criticism even further, warning the young Syrian president 'who is murdering free people in Lebanon' that there would be a 'Nawaf' for him - a sort of a freedom-fighter from anywhere inside Lebanon.

Nawaf Ghazaleh is a Syrian Druze assassin who shot to death ex- Syrian president Adib Shishakli.

'If the UN tribunal is hindered, we will all be Nawaf,' added Jumblatt.

In response, opposition leaders have described Jumblatt's statement as 'hostile.'

Across anti-government media outlets, the leaders said Jumblatt's statements could mark an end to the already fragile 'feasts truce'.

Jumblatt also criticized Nabih Berri, ally of Hezbollah, speaker of the Lebanese National Assembly and leader of Amal, who told the press earlier that he will introduce a new 'initiative' aiming at reconciliation and suggesting resolutions to end the current political standoff.

In Beirut-based al-Akhbar newspaper, Berri's suggestions were said to reportedly include a quota-based government board whose duty is to review and approve the UN tribunal, where three of the board members would be from the ruling party, three from the opposition in addition to four independent officers.

The 10-member board, according to the newspaper, should also prepare for new presidential and parliamentary elections.

So far, the details of the initiative were not disclosed and reports by al-Akhbar remain unconfirmed.

According to Berri, the full details of initiative will be announced within 10 days.

Pan-Arab TV channels had also said that this initiative will be solidified by Saudi and Iranian leaders, who are willing to facilitate the meditation between the Lebanese rival parties.
According to Al-Arabiya, the 'reconciliation' could occur on 'a Saudi table of negotiations.'

Berri is also said to have met privately with leaders of rival factions.

Berri's initiative had also coincided with statements that Saad Hariri, son of slain premier Rafik Hariri and Future party leader, had made during the truce.

Hariri had said that he was 'confident' that the UN inquiry into the killing of his father would 'see light soon.'

However, Jumblatt's statements perhaps will escalate the issues further - as observers note- after people saw a 'glimpse of hope' following Berri's and Hariri's statements.

In his remarks to Al-Arabiya, Jumblatt did not exclude Berri - considered a moderate voice in the opposition - from his fiery criticism, declaring: 'Berri is a hostage (in Hezbollah's hands) and he is threatened.'

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