Jumblatt: We never called for disarming Resistance by force, Shibaa Farms should be liberated, diplomatically or not
Source: Nowlebanon.com, 18-6-2009
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt said that "Israel" can wage a war against Lebanon any time and called on the Resistance to gradually assimilate into the state.
"We never called for disarming the Resistance by force, but we said that it should gradually assimilate into the state's military institutions through dialogue," he added in an interview with Al-Jazeera television on Wednesday night.
Liberating the territory of the Shibaa Farms is very important, whether through diplomatic or non-diplomatic channels, Jumblatt said, noting that "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not wait for any pretext to wage war against Lebanon.
""Israel" can take this step any time," something he said highlighted the need for people's unity in order to assimilate the Resistance into the Lebanese army.
The PSP leader said that everyone knows that the US Congress supports "Israel", stressing that Netanyahu's Sunday speech, in which he called for a demilitarized Palestinian state and the recognition of "Israel" as a Jewish state, torpedoed the Arab Peace Initiative that suggested "a land for peace" deal in the region.
"The best way to defend a territory is to wage an offensive," Jumblatt said.
He called for canceling all treaties between Arab states and "Israel", "or else the "Israelis" will impose their conditions, mainly the naturalization of Palestinians," which he said would surely affect Lebanon.
He also said that during the May 7 events, "a war between Shia and Druze was about to be waged, so I decided to change my political rhetoric to prevent" such a thing.
"I urged the Lebanese Armed Forces to implement the two cabinet decisions made on May 5," he said, a reference a 2008 decree to dismantle Hizbullah's private telecommunications network and dismiss Airport Security chief Wafiq Choucair, adding "Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri supported my proposal, but Head of Army Intelligence [then] George Khoury had reservations."
Jumblatt said that he might meet with Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah this week or after the re-election of Speaker Nabih Berri.
"It is impossible to support any person" other than Berri "for the position of speaker; we fostered personal relations, and I am proud about our history together, whether my allies," referring to the March 14 alliance, "like it or not, or even support another candidate," Jumblatt said.
He added that the Taif Accord called for forging good relations with Syria, and Saad "Hariri will decide the kind of relations, because he will be the new prime minister."
"I will make the final decision about my future stances when Hariri decides what he wants, and bilateral relations will be fostered," he added.
The PSP leader also said that enmity with Damascus cannot continue and called for resolving controversial issues between both countries, mainly Palestinian arms in Lebanon, the Shibaa Farms and border demarcation.
Jumblatt rejected any Syrian-"Israeli" or US-Iranian negotiations at the expense of Lebanon as well as any Syrian intervention in Lebanese domestic affairs.
"I tell my allies that we do not need the support of the West to win the parliamentary elections. What did the West offer to the Lebanese? Did they liberate the Shibaa Farms?" he asked.
He also criticized the March 14 alliance and rejected its statement issued on Wednesday in which it supported the opposition in Iran.
Jumblatt said that March 14 rejects any foreign intervention in Lebanon's domestic affairs, and therefore, it should not support the protests taking place in Tehran, which he said should be considered an internal Iranian issue.
