Jumblat Surprised by Storm over “Muslim Gathering” Calls
MP Walid Jumblat said Monday he was surprised that his recent calls for a "Muslim Gathering" have provoked a wide storm of criticism in the country.
Last week Jumblat called for the formation of a gathering with al-Mustaqbal Movement, Hizbullah and Speaker Nabih Berri aimed at "erasing the traces" of May 7, 2008 clashes.
"My call was a mere attempt to clear the air after the Muslim (communities) experienced deep conflicts that reached a dangerous level and almost dragged the country into a new civil war," Jumblat said in an interview with al-Anbaa weekly.
He voiced surprise at the "premeditated controversy surrounding each announced statement or position."
The Druze leader saw a need to "reach political understandings that can keep the country away from returning to the tunnel of sectarian and confessional tension."
"There is absolutely no need to create any form of sectarian alliances in confrontation of other sects," he added.
"If the objective of my call is to relieve confessional tension, is it then reasonable to call for the establishment of sectarian blocs opposite to other sectarian coalitions?
He said all political sides in Lebanon had a responsibility to "go along with regional and international changes in order to preempt the rekindling of tension."