Jumblat Says IS's Terror Compels Lebanese Unity
Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat renewed his call on rival Lebanese parties to unite to confront the danger of terrorists and salvage Lebanon.
Jumblat said that he agreed with Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during their meeting last month that the Islamic State's threat to the region puts Lebanon in danger.
In remarks to As Safir daily published on Tuesday, the MP said: “the IS's terrorism that is crawling to the region, poses an existential threat not just on Lebanon but on all the region's countries and peoples.”
“I hope that everyone would understand what's happening and would meet and unite out of their keenness to confront this threat and salvage Lebanon,” he said.
He urged the rival leaders “to put all their differences aside and reach common ground on this essential point.”
Islamic State (IS) jihadists launched in early June a major offensive in northern Iraq, sweeping Iraqi security forces aside.
The militants have declared a "caliphate" straddling vast areas of Iraq and Syria.
Earlier this month, IS and al-Nusra Front fighters entered the northeastern town of Arsal and engaged in bloody battles with the Lebanese army. The jihadists withdrew to Syrian territories a few days later but the seizure of Arsal marked the first time that extremists from Syria carried out a large-scale incursion into Lebanon.
Jumblat reiterated his call for the speedy election of a president to end the vacuum at Baabda Palace.
Lebanon has been without a head of state since May 25 when President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended amid parliament's failure to agree on a compromise candidate.
Jumblat met with Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh in Bnashii on Monday, announcing that he has no solutions to end the presidential vacuum.
"I said I will hold talks (with political leaders) and I will carry on with these talks but it is not me who has the solution,” he said after his talks with Franjieh.
Jumblat has so far met with Nasrallah and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.
He is also expected to visit Kataeb party leader Amin Gemayel and Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea.
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