Jumblat Considers Nasrallah”s Admittance of Shehab”s membership of Hizbullah an Error
“Democratic Gathering” leader MP Walid Jumbalt considered the recent admittance by Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah that the individual arrested by Egyptian authorities is a Hizbullah member to be a mistake.
In an interview with al-Jadid TV on Sunday Jumblat said: "The party has nothing to gain by entering into conflict with Arab regimes."
He expressed his willingness to meet with Nasrallah saying: "Some people in Hizbullah continue to doubt my intentions and stances, and I say one must distinguish between my speeches under the influence of blood with what I am saying now."
Jumblat said that the meeting between al-Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri and Nasrallah "was good and should be repeated."
Regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections in June, Jumblat said that list formation in some regions was governed by circumstances citing the Shouf as an example.
"I forged a partnership with MP Saad Hariri, in some regions this has been at our expense. Our Christian partner did not impose any names on us. However, we did what we did so that no one would came and say that Saad Hariri is controlling the Christian decision process for March 14 Forces," he said.
Jumblat was quick to point that this is the first time in Lebanon were we hold general elections with no direct interference from Anjar, in reference to the former location of Syrian intelligence in the Bekka Valley.
"Our aim is to win the June 7 elections, following that date I must consult with my allies, I am one of them and shall remain with them,"he said.
Jumblat added that he had spoken with Hariri expressing his desire not place a candidate in the Bekka region that could annoy Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
Regarding his relationship with the United States, Jumblat said that he agreed with the former Bush administration over the issue of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon that would bring the assassins of the former prime minister to justice, but that he differed with the U.S. administration over the Palestinian issue.
He explained that his current relationship with the United States is simply limited to the U.S. embassy and the relationship with the Acting Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Jeffery Feltman.