Jumblat Seeks to Contain 'Incitement' after Killing of Druze in Syria

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has held an emergency meeting for his party's leadership to contain the repercussions of the killing of at least 20 members of Syria's Druze community, al-Mustaqbal daily reported on Friday.

During the meeting that took place on Thursday, Jumblat called for calm to limit attempts to instigate against strife after a press conference that was held by Tawhid movement leader ex-Minsiter Wiam Wahab.

Wahab said: “The faithful Druze from all Lebanese regions are ready to fight.”

“We will all take up arms, here and elsewhere. Anyone on Lebanese soil who has ties to al-Nusra Front or is collaborating with it is unwelcome,” he added.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the deaths of the Druze community members came Wednesday in the village of Qalb Lawzah in Idlib province, most of which is now controlled by an alliance including al-Nusra.

Jumblat, who is Lebanon's most influential Druze leader, received on Thursday phone calls from top Lebanese officials condemning the massacre.

On Friday, he will attend an emergency meeting for Lebanon's Druze Spiritual Council to draw up a response to the killings.

He is expected to hold a press conference to announce the outcome of the meeting.

PSP sources told al-Mustaqbal that Jumblat's move is aimed at “confronting attempts by some opportunists to incite the Druze and motivate them to take up arms and avenge the events in Idlib.”

“Such attempts would further drag the Syrian strife to Lebanon and incite the Druze to attack Syrian refugees as a vengeance,” they warned.

G.K.

H.K.