Rifi Says May Visit Jabal Mohsen, Seeking 'Stronger' Dialogue with Hizbullah

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi on Wednesday announced that his political camp is seeking “stronger” communication with Hizbullah in a bid to “protect the country,” noting that he might visit the Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhoods amid the security plan that is being implemented in Tripoli.

“The implementation of the security plan in Tripoli is very comforting,” Rifi said as he entered a cabinet session in the afternoon, stressing that “Tripoli is larger than Ashraf Rifi and all the figures.”

“The challenge is to return peace to Tripoli and it is important to see our children happy and carrying their schoolbags,” Rifi, a former Internal Security Forces chief who hails from the northern city, added.

He pointed out that the country has entered “a new phase.”

“I hope we will continue in this atmosphere and Tripoli can only be a city of coexistence and peace,” added Rifi.

He revealed that “there is an intent to revive the channels of communication with Hizbullah in a strong manner instead of maintaining the current low-intensity contacts, in order to protect the country which has been exhausted by the Sunni-Shiite tensions.”

And as Rifi underlined that the outcome of the security plan is more important than the small details, he did not rule out visiting Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh “because they are all our people.”

On Tuesday, the army and the ISF began implementing a security plan in Tripoli and the North as part of a government resolution that also involves the Bekaa and Beirut.

March 8 politicians, especially Arab Democratic Party leader Rifaat Eid of Jabal Mohsen, had on several occasions accused Rifi of supporting the armed groups in Bab al-Tabbaneh.

According to media reports, Eid fled the neighborhood as the security plan got underway.

Y.R.

S.D.B.