Gemayel Crticizes Aoun”s Support for “Open War”

Ex-President Amin Gemayel on Friday criticized Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun for supporting Hizbullah”s open war declaration on Israel saying it was tantamount to giving up state principles.

 

Gemayel, in a statement distributed by his press office, said he was concerned by Aoun”s “giving up state principles including shouldering responsibilities and protecting citizens.”

 

“How can anyone accept to keep the decision to go to war in the hands of one person or one party? Can the Lebanese endure the repercussions of such a war? I believe that Gen. Aoun, being a former army commander, understands repercussions of such issues more than anyone else,” Gemayel said.

 

Addresing Aoun, Gemayel said: “Did he take Christians” feelings into consideration” before declaring support for the open war against Israel declared by Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah to avenge the killing of the party”s Imad Mughniyeh that he had blamed on the Jewish State.

 

Aoun”s remarks, Gemayel added, “lead me to ask what if I, the Hariris and all the families that had lost fathers, sons and brothers, decided to avenge their killing irrespective of the outcome?”

 

“Was Imad Mughniyeh more important than presidents, premiers, cabinet ministers, legislators, journalists, party members and security officers that had been martyred?” he asked, noting that their families had sought judicial action rather than taking justice into their hands.