Local Figures Deplore Hermel Attack and Jumblat Says Condemnation 'Became Useless'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Local political figures deplored on Saturday evening the second explosion to hit the Bekaa town of Hermel in a month, calling for national unity.
"Once again criminals have targeted a Lebanese region and attacked innocent civilians,” caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati said in a released statement.
"And in front of this incident, we can only call for national unity to protect our country and our people,” he added.
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat told MTV that words of condemnation “are no longer useful.”
"This is the second explosion that targets Hermel and we don't know where the next one will take place. We have entered a cycle of terrorism as a result of the war in Syria and of foreign nations' conflict over the region,” he added.
He continued: “Getting into details is useless and I don't want to analyze anything. I will limit my statement to condemning the attack and expressing my fear of the future."
"I have warned of these explosions.”
Jumblat also noted that the ongoing debate over the cabinet's formation is pointless.
The March 14 general-secretariat condemned “the crime that targeted Hermel,” reiterating calls for deploying army forces on the border with Syria, supported by UNIFIL troops.
Meanwhile, PM-designate Tammam Salam called on the residents of Hermel to “exercise self-restraint despite the painful events they are going through.”
"This cowardly terrorist act must be a motivation for local factions to unite and block the road in front of sedition, and to support the army and the security forces that are exerting all needed efforts to prosecute perpetrator and bring them to justice,” Salam said.
Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel told LBCI television that isolating security bodies from political authorities is a “heresy.”
"We demand a single authority that exclusively supervises to the work of all security forces,” he stressed.
"We must all assume responsibility and what security bodies have been able to uncover so far reveals their potentials and capabilities.”
"This should be followed with a political cover,” the former president remarked.
At least three people were killed in a suicide explosion that targeted a petrol station in Hermel on Saturday evening, less than a month after an attack killed three and wounded 26 others in the Bekaa town.
01 February 2014, 21:19
55
Jumblatt has been quite candid. Verbal condemnation without follow through action simply means that the authorities are aware of their own impotence in that they cannot stop these attacks. It is a sign of ineffectiveness to condemn without the will, ability or means to apprehend the culprits or to prevent the next attack.
01 February 2014, 21:44
105
You cannot stop or prevent suicide bombers. Just look at Iraq.... I think we are now in the eye of the storm.......
01 February 2014, 23:00
117
Nusra, hizbulla..... Same thing, they r jihadists.... Both against our democratic values.
01 February 2014, 23:40
00
Perhaps one might agree once, rationaly making conclusion that "yes", some factors pushed for this to happended. But it is scientificaly irrational to make EVERY conclusion based on the same assumptions, given.
How its possible to live in country, born in country that is so small, that on some maps is invisible or simple dot, but carry so much negative energy, thoughts, that are unacceptable. Learn how to love each other for the sake of own future and Lebanese identity. life is so short
02 February 2014, 00:21
106
Muallem: If Hizbollah is fighting the terrorists in Syria then why those innocent people have to die in Lebanon?
If Hizbollah kidnapped the Israeli soldiers in 2006 again under Assad orders then why the Israeli Jets hit every Infrastructure building and Bridge?
Cut the BS and disarm now by following Baabda orders and its disassociation policy.
02 February 2014, 02:31
38
jumblatt knows the situation is out of the lebanese's hands. we are just the battle ground, and talking too much will get u killed.
when iran, ksa, russia, and america decide they have sold enough arms... the situation will calm down. untill then, god bless this tiny country of ours.
02 February 2014, 06:40
112
@nolegit first of all Saudi doesn't occupy countries like your ASSad does, second if they did it will be more modern than your Syria today... When was the last time you wrote an opinion on a Syrian newspaper? How much ASSad is paying you monitor this forum?
