"The past has ended": Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt tells Hezbollah to end military action
Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has called for Hezbollah to become a purely political party and end its existence as an armed, non-state militia.
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Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt told Saudi media today (Wednesday) that “the political and military members of Hezbollah” must “realize that the past has ended” and that “they must turn to political action and abandon military action,” according to Naharnet.
As support for his position, he noted the new Lebanese President's call for unity under the sole aegis of the Lebanese state: “President Joseph Aoun’s remarks in the inaugural speech were clear and must become Lebanon’s approach, when he said that what’s between us and Israel is the truce.”
“We cannot engage in a declared war against Israel, but we also cannot engage in a settlement, and this would be better for the Lebanese interior,” Jumblat added, stressing the challenge presented by Israel and the IDF. “They must realize that there is a new Lebanon after the latest earthquake that struck the country in the wake of the October 7 operation.”
Following the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Lebanon's parliament elected a new President - Joseph Aoun - and a new Prime Minister, former ICJ President Nawaf Salam.
Both leaders are considered to be friendlier to the west and less friendly towards the Iranian political constellation in the region. Aoun stressed in his maiden speech that it was vital that Lebanon unite under the banner of the Lebanese state.
While Nawaf Salam has also made similar statements, he is reportedly working to bring Hezbollah and the Shiite party Amal into his intended government, with a Hezbollah member serving as Finance Minister.
Both Aoun and Salam have referred to Israel as "the enemy" and demanded that it leave Lebanon within the 60-day timeline allotted by the ceasefire deal.
Due to the slowness of the Lebanese Army in taking over southern Lebanon and demilitarizing it in accordance with the ceasefire and UN Resolution 1701, Israel requested - and received - an extension of the deadline from January 26 to February 28.