Report: Jumblat to Ease Rhetoric against Hizbullah in Light of Recent Instability

Progressive Socialist Movement leader MP Walid Jumblat’s recent harsh criticism against Hizbullah has led people to believe that he may be returning to the March 14 camp fold, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.

It added however that the MP may have realized the severity of the current situation in Lebanon, which prompted him to return to the national dialogue and ease his rhetoric against Hizbullah.

It revealed that a series of contacts and meetings took place between PSP and Hizbullah officials to that end.

Al-Joumhouria noted however that a series of contacts were held between Hizbullah and its allies over “the need to take a decisive stand towards the PSP leader.”

Some of the members of the alliance believe that the MP had turned his back on the parliamentary majority that he joined in early 2011 seeing as he issued statements that contradict the alliance when he slammed the equation of the army, people, and resistance.

Soon after however, said al-Joumhouria, Jumblat realized the repercussions of his criticism and decided to reaffirm his commitment to the current government.

He chose not to resign from cabinet due to the “vacuum that it will cause,” added the newspaper.

“This position reassured Hizbullah, which is striving to maintain the government because it serves as its main supporter, especially on the international scene through Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour,” continued al-Joumhouria.

In addition, it revealed that contacts had been made between the National Struggle Front and Hizbullah ministers in order to restore calm in Lebanon despite the political differences.

The contacts culminated in a meeting in Khaldeh between PSP, Hizbullah, and Lebanese Democratic Party officials, stated the newspaper.

On August 11, Jumblat slammed “the obscure army, people, and resistance slogan”, saying it “can no longer persist at the expense of the state, army, security, and economy.”

He added: “There can be no room for diversity and room for Lebanon away from the Iranian-Syrian alliance should the March 8 forces be victorious in the elections.”