Jumblat Seeks to Appease Christians After “Insulting” and “Unintentional” Remarks on Maronites
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat said Wednesday that his statement regarding the Maronites was "unintentional" and he meant by it the isolationist trend in the country.
"The video was part of a long discussion which talked about the isolationist trend in the country," Jumblat said about a mobile phone video in which the Druze leader criticized Maronites and some March 14 leaders.
"I wish that (Maronite) Patriarch (Nasrallah) Sfeir and all Maronites would take the bad and insulting word I used – and which was taken out of context from a long discussion about isolation – as a mere description of the situation that caused isolationism" in Lebanese sects, Jumblat said during a press conference from his home in Clemenceau.
The Druze leader stressed that he was expressing in the video broadcast by several TV stations, his frustration at ways in which politicians formed their electoral lists.
"I was expressing (my point of view on) choosing candidates particularly by the March 14 alliance. The latest victim was Nassib Lahoud who decided to withdraw his candidacy. This attitude doesn”t only exist among March 14 but also rests with the other party."
After reminding the Lebanese about "great" Maronites who had major impact on the economy, politics and literature, Jumblat hoped his announcement would be enough to eliminate the "unintentional harm" he has done.
The PSP leader urged media institutions to be aware of the current dangers particularly after agreement has been reached to maintain calm in the country.