Netanyahu Gave Us a War Speech; Lebanon Must Strengthen Its Defenses
MP Walid Jumblat stressed Monday that Lebanon must bolster its defenses against Israeli plans to drag the region into a "dangerous stage" especially after Israeli premier”s policy speech "completely crippled" any possibility to reach a peace settlement.
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave us a war speech that practically torpedoed and crippled all possibilities for a compromise," Jumblat told al-Anbaa weekly of the Progressive Socialist Party.
He warned that Netanyahu”s speech "makes the region susceptible to great dangers that might explode in different directions."
Jumblat said the Israeli government”s attitude toward the peace process "confirm that Israel does not have a genuine desire for compromise and is laying the foundation for a dangerous stage that will impact the entire Middle East."
He pointed to Israel”s repetitive warnings of the threats posed by Iran as an indicator to "what Israel might be planning for, including wars and aggressions to which Lebanon will – once again – be a definite gateway."
In light of such grim scenarios, Jumblat stressed the "urgent need for a serious and in-depth study of a defense strategy to protect Lebanon and enhance its defenses." Jumblat also called for efforts to "fortify" the domestic front by the formation of a national unity government that has "a wide and diverse political representation."
He expected Israel to give "a grace-period of maximum one year before carrying out its threats and schemes, using the Iranian president”s reelection as a pretext."
Outlining his Middle East peace policy, Netanyahu endorsed Sunday for the first time the creation of a Palestinian state, provided it was demilitarized and that Palestinians recognize the Jewish character of Israel.
"Any talk about Israel (being recognized) as a Jewish state means closing the file on the (right of) return and entering a new process of internal displacement of the Palestinians – essentially leading to more Judaization in the West Bank," Jumblat said.
On Netanyahu”s demand for a demilitarized Palestinian state, Jumblat said such a condition would lead to the establishment of a "state that lacks identity, sovereignty and is incapable of performing the minimum level of self-governing duties."