Raad’s speech rejected, considered a withdrawal from the Doha Agreement
Minister of State Wael Abu Faour on Sunday affirmed that PSP leader MP Walid Jumblatt would not leave the March 14 alliance and “certainly will not join March 8.”
Abu Faour said in an interview with LBC that Jumblatt had “paid dearly” for his decision to hold dialogue and reconcile with the Christians against the Syrians’ will, and this decision led to reconciliation in Mount Lebanon.
He affirmed that Jumblatt should not be judged only by the leaked tape, for he had “a long march on the path of reconciliation.” He emphasized that Jumblatt had the courage to apologize publicly after causing unintended harm, and that Sunnis and Christians understood his position.
Abu Faour said Jumblatt would visit Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in the coming days to reassure the patriarch of his ongoing partnership with the Christians and his deep respect for Sfeir.
He also emphasized relations between Jumblatt and the March 14 Christians had not been severed, and even after the leak the contacts continued with the Kataeb, the National Liberal Party and the Lebanese Forces.
Abu Faour said the Sunni community was not worried about Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt because he said “they know the good and solid relationship between him and Future Movement leader Saad Hariri.”
He said specific political parties had political aims the leak was intended, given its timing, to have by to have specific political aims.
“If the leak was allowed by Jumblatt, then why did he apologize?” he asked.
Speaking on comments made on Saturday by Loyalty to the Resistance block leader Muhammad Raad, in which he said the current cabinet was part of an “aggressive project” against Lebanon and its people, Abu Faour said, “If the remarks attributed to Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad were true then it is a rejected speech, which is considered as withdrawing from the Doha Agreement.”
He said Raad’s comments marked a return to the period when Hezbollah accused its political rivals of treason. Yet, he also mentioned that his comments were incompatible with Hezbollah officials’ recent affirmation of their support for the Doha Agreement.
“Raad’s remarks contradict the behavior of Hezbollah and its allies. [If the majority is traitors] why did Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah allow himself to meet with Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri and why are Hezbollah delegations meeting regularly with Hariri and Jumblatt?” Abu Faour asked.
“Those who ask for commitment to the Doha Agreement should be the first to abide by it,” he said.
Abu Faour said Hariri’s decision to meet with Speaker Nabih Berri was “courageous.”
He stated that any form of partnership, without the obstructing third vote, would not harm Lebanese political life, adding that it would not become a part of the Lebanese constitution.