Jumblatt to Al-Manar: Thank God I Left March 14 Bloc!

Al-Manar

17/07/2010 The head of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt said on Friday that the Resistance should remain ready to face all challenges, renewing commitment to the State, People and Resistance's balance, adding that the July 2006 war against Lebanon proved the capacities of the Resistance in the face of the Israeli enemy.

Speaking to Al-Manar Television, Jumblatt said that Lebanese division regarding wars with Israel is historical "since in 1982 there had been division and also in 1978." He thanked God for leaving the March 14 camp, calling on his one-time allies to benefit from the resistance against Israel – "from those who volunteer to defend Lebanon for nothing in return."

"Some still long for the neutrality theory and they adopt the theory that says that the Resistance's arms give Israel an alibi," Jumblatt pointed out, stressing that neutrality won't come for free but would link Lebanon to the Zionist entity.

The Progressive Socialist Party leader noted that the decision to wage an all-out aggression against Lebanon in 2006 was not taken only by Israel, highlighting that Israel can't do anything without the permission of the US. "The Americans were trying to employ some Lebanese for the sake of their plan to push Lebanon away from its natural environment, and maybe the 2006 aggression had aimed at making Lebanon abandon the Taef Accord, but that aim failed," he went on to say.

"I took part in the lunch at the US Embassy with (former US Secretary of State) Condoleezza Rice (in 2006), and I believe that was a shameful scene: Lebanon was being destroyed and we were waiting for the US envoy," Jumblatt said. "One has to acknowledge his mistakes and not hide behind a finger, we were taken by the mottos of freedom and independence while the reality was different. I'm not ashamed to perform self-criticism and some have to understand that."

The head of the Democratic Gathering tackled the spying issue during his interview with Al-Manar, reiterating that spying is a dangerous thing and calling for the execution of all spies. "Enough with some civil society calls on the need to abolish the death penalty for the sake of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership because the country's security is more important than that partnership," he said.

While ruling out a new war in the near future, Jumblatt revealed that Mount Lebanon will become a strategic depth for the Resistance in any new war, as all areas must be. "I tell some hesitators that Israel has not and will not be merciful on anyone in its war."

On the other hand, Jumblatt said that some of UNIFIL's behaviors and photographing of some places, "and maybe provocations and maneuvers without coordinating with the army, led to the reaction of the southerners."

"Lebanese theoreticians are the ones who want to change UNIFIL's rules of engagement and I don't believe that the West wants to reach the foolishness of changing the rules of engagement because they would be subjecting themselves and Lebanon to dangers."

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