Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Who are the Middle East's Druze religious community?

2025-05-07

[NAHARNET] The Druze are a prominent religious community of more than a million people spread mainly across Syria, Leb
Leb

...The Lebs maintain a precarious sectarian balance among Shiites, Sunnis, and about a dozen flavors of Christians, plus Armenians, Georgians, and who knows what else?...
and Israel, who for centuries have sought to preserve a distinct identity.

In Syria, Druze fighters recently clashed with forces loyal to the country's new Islamist rulers, highlighting the struggles they and other minority groups have faced with shifts in regional power dynamics.

"The Druze are a kind of an ultra-tribe which transcends space and geography," said Makram Rabah, assistant professor of history at the American University of Beirut.

Despite being a minority in a majority Sunni Moslem region, the Middle East's Druze have played "a very important role", Rabah said.

Here is a look at the community:

- RELIGION AND CUSTOMS -
The Druze emerged in Egypt in the early 11th century as a branch of the Ismaili sect of Shiite Islam.

They are monotheistic and call themselves "muwahhidun", or unitarians.

The sect is highly secretive and includes mystical elements like reincarnation.

It does not allow new converts and marriage outside the community is strongly discouraged.

A source familiar with Druze rituals, requesting anonymity to discuss matters considered sensitive, said the faith's emergence was influenced by other religious and philosophical teachings, including those of Greek philosopher Plato.

Some Druze religious occasions align with those of other Islamic sects.

Traditional Druze garb is black, with men wearing white caps or turbans and women covering their heads and part of their faces with a flowing white scarf.

- WHERE ARE THEY? -
"The Druze don't really recognize borders," Rabah said.

"You have marriages and you have standing relationships between the Druze across the region," he said, adding that "holy men play a very important role in keeping this relationship alive."

Before Syria's civil war erupted in 2011, the community was estimated at around 700,000 people.

According to "The Druze Faith" by historian Sami Makarem, Druze have been migrating to southern Syria since the 16th century, to an area now known as Jabal al-Druze, meaning Druze Mountain, in Sweida province.

Syria's Druze are now mainly concentrated in their Sweida heartland, as well as nearby Quneitra province, with smaller pockets in the Damascus suburbs, notably Jaramana and Sahnaya, which recently saw sectarian violence.

In Lebanon, an estimated 200,000 Druze are concentrated in the mountainous center as well as in the south near Israel and Syria.

In Israel, some 153,000 Druze are Israeli citizens, living mainly in the north. Unlike other Arab Israelis, Druze serve in the Israeli army.

In the Israeli-annexed Syrian Golan Heights, more than 22,000 Druze hold permanent resident status. Only around 1,600 have become Israeli citizens, while others remain attached to their Syrian identity.

Israel seized much of the Golan from Syria in 1967, annexing the area in 1981 in a move largely unrecognized internationally. The move separated extended families, though Druze in the annexed Golan were often able to cross into Syria to study, attend weddings or sell produce.
[AnNahar] Some Druze from southern Syria also settled in neighboring Jordan, where the community is estimated at 15,000 to 20,000.

Two delegations of Syrian Druze holy men have made pilgrimages to a holy site in Israel this year, even though the two countries are technically at war with each other.

Outside the Middle East, Druze have migrated to regions including the Americas and Australia.

Well-known Druze include prominent human rights
...not to be confused with individual rights, mind you...
lawyer Amal Alamuddin Clooney and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.

- LEADING ROLE -
Despite their minority status, Druze "have filled an important and sometimes a leading role in the political and social life" of the Middle East, according to historian Makarem.

In Syria, Druze Sultan Pasha al-Atrash led a nationalist revolt against the French mandatory power which had established a Druze statelet in southern Syria during the 1920s and 1930s.

In Lebanon, Druze leader Kamal Jumblat played a key role in politics from the 1950s until his 1977 liquidation, and his son Walid is a powerful politician.

Jumblat last month urged Syria's Druze to reject "Israeli interference", after Israel warned the Islamist authorities who ousted president Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Light of the Alawites...
against harming the minority.

Druze leaders have declared their loyalty to a united Syria, though some have called for international protection following recent sectarian violence.

Israeli Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif has urged Israel to protect Syria's Druze.

Rabah said there was a Druze "power struggle across three states", adding that he believes Syria's community does not aspire to statehood.

The Druze largely stayed on the sidelines of Syria's war after it erupted in 2011, focusing on defending their heartland.

Most Druze gangs have yet to reach a settlement with the new authorities.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

'David's Corridor': What Role Do the Druze Play in Israel's Plans to Dismember Syria

2025-03-04

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
by Kirill Semenov

[REGNUM] The Israeli leadership would like to use the Syrian Druze as its “fifth column” in Syria, but so far the bet on this ethno-confessional minority has not paid off.

Despite the provocative statements of the Israeli leadership, the Syrian Druze continue to claim that their "qibla" (i.e. point of attraction) is Damascus, and they intend to remain Syrians, although tensions in relations with the transitional government continue to mount.

On Saturday, following an incident in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana, in which two militants from local Druze groups killed an employee of the Syrian government's Public Security Service (PSS - police), the town was blocked by government forces.

Israel decided to intervene in the situation, presenting itself as a "defender of the Druze." The Minister of Defense of the Jewish state, Israel Katz, then said that he had instructed the military to prepare for a march on Jaramana and to support the Druze if Syrian troops began to clear the suburbs.

"We will not allow the radical Islamic regime in Syria to harm the Druze. If the regime harms the Druze, we will strike at it," Katz said.

The head of the military department also assured that he “commits to our Druze brothers in Israel” to do everything possible to prevent harm from being caused to “their Druze brothers in Syria,” and intends to take all necessary steps to ensure their safety.

"DAVID'S CORRIDOR"
Israel is trying to take advantage of the unstable situation in Syria to finally destroy the country, which in the future could pose a threat to the Jewish state.

The events of October 7, 2023 have changed Israel greatly, primarily in its assessment of its own security and measures to ensure it. And now, perhaps, maintaining chaos in neighboring countries instead of stability seems to be the best option for Tel Aviv to mitigate any future challenges.

The Israeli leadership was not interested in the fall of the Assad regime, believing that this would lead to dangerous turbulence at the borders. Now it is doing everything to ensure that the new Syrian authorities are unable to stabilize the situation, and even wants Syria as a state to cease to exist in principle, disintegrating into several entities hostile to each other.

Of course, in such a scenario, individual “splashes” of these conflicts may also affect Israel, but these will definitely not be waves like the “Al-Aqsa flood,” and it will be much easier to counteract them.

Israel speaks about these plans openly and without embarrassment.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has publicly voiced the Netanyahu government's preference for a fragmented Syria. In a speech at the EU-Israel summit, Saar called for the country to be divided into separate autonomous states along perceived ethnic and religious lines. This, he said, is important to protect the country's minorities, who are under threat from the new government.

The plan to dismember Syria has already received the unofficial name “David’s Corridor” in Israel.

It proposes, at the first stage, the creation of a security zone in southern Syria in the provinces of Daraa and Quneitra bordering Israel. The Druze in the neighboring province of Suwayda, where they constitute the majority, would be able to rely on this zone. This would create a continuous strip of Israeli control in southern Syria, and the Druze would become a local support for Israel, just as the Lebanese Christians - the Maronites - once did in the puppet state of southern Lebanon before 2000.

The reality of the launch of the first stage of the scenario is indicated by the ultimatum demands voiced by the Netanyahu government regarding the withdrawal of all armed forces of the new Syrian government from the southern regions of Syria.

In the second stage, the "David Corridor" is planned to be extended through the desert areas along the border with Iraq, relying on the American base at At-Tanf. This security belt should be provided by Arab tribes that were part of the pro-American "Free Syrian Army" based at At-Tanf, and be extended to the territories controlled by the Kurdish formations of the "Syrian Democratic Forces" in northeastern Syria.

Thus, Israel will be cut off from Iraq with its numerous Shiite pro-Iranian groups by a continuous strip of forces allied to it and the US, and the “Islamist” government in Damascus will be isolated.

For this purpose, the Alawites in the provinces of Tartus and Latakia, according to this plan, must also separate from Syria, forming their own quasi-state.

In connection with this, there have already been rumors in the Western press that Israel would like Russian bases to remain in Syria, and is negotiating this not only with Russia itself, but also with the United States.

Obviously, this is a hint that the Russian side should become the curator of the “Alawite state,” while the United States will continue to look after the Kurdish state, and Israel will look after the Druze state, connected by the “David Corridor.”

But the aim of these information provocations is also to present Russia as an accomplice in the division of Syria and to spoil the background of Moscow’s relations with Damascus, as well as with other Arab states, as well as Turkey.

However, the large number of publications in support of the separation of the Alawites from the Syrian state in the Russian-language segment of various social networks adds credibility to this rumor.

DRUZE BETWEEN THE HAMMER OF TEL AVIV AND THE ANVIL OF DAMASCUS
Israel's far-reaching plans have met a serious obstacle in the form of the Syrian Druze themselves.

The Druze of the southern provinces and the forces of Jaramana quickly rejected any external assistance, reaffirming the unity and indivisibility of Syria. Later, demonstrations under Syrian flags were held in Druze areas against the statements of Netanyahu and Katz.

As Alain Saab, a Russian researcher of the Druze community with Druze roots, told Regnum news agency, it is noteworthy that it was the Druze groups and influential political figures from the As-Suwayda region that acted as mediators in resolving the conflict between the population of Jaramana and the Public Security Service (PSS) of the transitional government.

In particular, a significant role was played by Laith al-Balous, an influential Druze political figure and leader of the Forces of the Sheikhs of Dignity (Rijal al-Karama) group, who became a de facto mediator between Damascus and Jaramane.

Thus, according to the expert, constant contacts between the Druze leaders and the GSS helped to avoid unnecessary bloodshed and escalation: now there is silence in the Jaramana area, the GSS units have fully entered the center of the area and set up checkpoints, and local forces and Damascus are taking further steps to resolve the conflict.

In turn, the leader of the Druze in Lebanon, Walid Jumblatt, who also has great influence among the Druze communities in Syria and Israel, said on Sunday that he would soon visit Syria to meet with its interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and help ease tensions in the Druze community in that country and help resolve all disputes between it and Damascus.

"Free Syrians must be careful of Israeli plots," he told a news conference on Sunday, accusing Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu of creating sectarian division and chaos in Syria.

On the other hand, as Alain Saab noted, the Druze-populated province of As-Suwayda is indeed playing its own game, enjoying the political support of the Israeli Druze when necessary. The nature of this “game” is to systematically pressure Damascus to obtain some autonomous privileges in the overall Syrian context.

However, the connection between the Syrian Druze and the Israelis should not be equated with the connection between the Syrian Druze and Israel itself.

Many Syrian Druze do have relatives in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which Tel Aviv has announced its annexation of. However, it is important to note that the Druze of that part of the Golan Heights retain a Syrian national identity. To this day, the Druze from the Golan do not serve in the Israeli army and most do not have Israeli citizenship.

At the same time, one cannot underestimate the activities of the Israeli intelligence services, primarily the Mossad, which uses some Israeli Druze to create pro-Israeli networks among the Druze community in Syria.

Obviously, the so-called “Military Council” of Suwayda, created back in December, can be considered an Israel-oriented structure, but it made its presence known most loudly after the announcement of Israel’s plans to divide Syria.

However, the influence of this group among the Syrian Druze is insignificant, although its ranks include highly qualified military personnel who were trained at the American base at Al-Tanf back in 2023.

The "Mountain Brigade" and "Karam Sheikh Forces" significantly outnumber this faction. Despite its active PR (not without the help of Israeli information resources), at the moment this structure, according to official statements, is supported by four villages and a number of virtually unknown groups.

The Military Council also has no support from large armed groups or religious leaders.

THE KEY TO THE PROBLEM IS IN DAMASCUS
However, which side the Druze end up on will largely depend on the new Syrian authorities themselves.

On the one hand, Sunni Arabs and Druze do not have the same antagonism as Sunnis and Alawites, and one can speak of much greater mutual understanding.

Most Druze did not support the regime of Bashar al-Assad and did not participate on his side in the civil war. Quite the contrary, in the last stage of the conflict, Druze armed groups openly opposed Assad, advancing towards Damascus, disarming parts of the collapsed government.

On the other hand, the Druze certainly remain distrustful of the “Islamist” government in Damascus.

The Druze already had negative experiences with the Jabhat al-Nusra* group even before it became Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)*.

Thus, under pressure from jihadists, the Druze communities in Idlib were forced to accept Islam (although, by the way, a statement from their leaders was enough for this and no evidence was required from each Druze). And several Druze units fighting in the ranks of the opposition in southern Syria were surrounded and captured by radicals after they were declared “apostates,” and only the intervention of other rebel factions allowed them to save their lives and be free again, but after that the Druze no longer joined the ranks of the armed opposition.

Now many problems between the new authorities and the Druze have been resolved.

In particular, in January, the Public Security Forces (PSF) of the transitional government were deployed in the province of Suwayda, although the Druze had previously prevented their entry into the region.

The Military Operations Department forces are also present in Suwayda, including separating warring Druze factions from local Bedouin tribes. But it is the Druze factions that are still the key guarantor of security in the province, although Damascus is not opposed to some factions helping the security services, as this can speed up their integration and create a barrier to threats from Israel.

But mistrust not only remains, but is generally growing.

Thus, according to expert Alain Saab, the Druze initially treated HTS* with some apprehension, but also with hope.

“Now, in my opinion, everyone is increasingly afraid of HTS,” the expert noted, “

but Julani (al-Sharaa) is perceived as being separate (from the group he led. — Ed.) and more positive.”

In general, as Saaba notes, there is still cautious support for the new Syrian authorities among the Druze, but after the creation of the “Military Council” and the conflict in Jaramana, calls for a forceful solution to the Druze issue can be heard from the most radical elements of HTS*, “and this is seriously damaging support for Damascus among the Druze.”

According to the expert, if the new government can somehow stop all this disinformation and fakes, then a warming will occur.

If not, then on one side Israel, and on the other the radicals themselves will “construct a conflict.”

But in any case, Israel will continue to put pressure on Syria, using the information space to incite hatred towards the Druze on the part of Sunni Arabs and, conversely, with the aim of expanding the ethno-confessional conflict and further dividing Syria.

Update from Rudaw, with a local perspective, at 11:30 a.m. ET:

Syrian forces enter Damascus suburb, situation stable: Source

Members of Syria's new authorities security forces deploy in the mostly Druze and Syrian forces have entered a majority Druze and Christian suburb on the outskirts of Damascus and stabilized the situation, a local source said on Monday, after deadly clashes with Druze gunmen.

“The situation in Jarmana is stable. Yesterday, the General Security Forces and police entered the city with the cooperation of the city’s people, and there is good cooperation between the people and the police,” Rabie Munther, a member of the Jarmana Civil Action Group, told Rudaw’s Nalin Hassan.

He said that Syrian forces entered the town on Sunday night following 48 hours of tensions and following mediation between dignitaries and Syrian government authorities.

Security is now being maintained jointly by the police and the area’s residents, according to Munther.

“We have not stopped basic services and institutions for even a second since the fall of the regime until now,” he stressed.

Jaramana, a mostly Druze and Christian suburb of the capital Damascus, has witnessed tensions for days following a fatal shooting at a checkpoint. Clashes ensued between security forces and local gunmen, resulting in another death and nine others injured.

Munther explained that what happened was a “personal matter,” where unknown gunmen attacked a car.

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led the rebel coalition that toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime in early December. Its then leader and now Syria’s interim President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has repeatedly pledged to protect the rights of all Syrians. In December, the rebel coalition, including the HTS, agreed to merge into the Syrian defense ministry.

The international community has expressed concern that the new Islamist authorities in Damascus may impose strict Islamic rule in Syria, threatening the country’s minority groups such as Kurds, Druze, Christians, and Alawites.

On Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned the Damascus administration to “not harm the Druze,” stressing that Syrian authorities would “suffer the consequences” if they harmed the community.

In Syria’s southern Druze-majority Suwayda province, both armed and political factions have refused to disband their forces.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

'They have no influence.' Words at the 'peace summit' on Gaza did not turn into actions

2023-10-23

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
by Mikhail Zakharov

[REGNUM] On October 21, a summit on the Palestinian-Israeli issue was held in Cairo. The event, initiated by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi , was dedicated to discussing ways to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and reduce tension in the Gaza Strip.

Representatives of 34 countries and three international organizations - the UN, the League of Arab States and the African Union - arrived in the Egyptian capital. Russia was represented at the summit by Deputy Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry and Presidential Representative for the Middle East and African Countries Mikhail Bogdanov.

Speaking at the summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict zone. “It is necessary to apply international humanitarian law and protect the civilian population of the Gaza Strip,” the UN Secretary General said, emphasizing that “every effort must be made to stop the bloodshed and achieve a two-state solution.”

The Egyptian side insisted on reviving the peace process in the Middle East. “I called on you to work together to reach consensus on a roadmap to end the current humanitarian tragedy and revive the peace process,” said President al-Sisi.

King Abdullah II of Jordan also noted the importance of immediately ending the war in the Gaza Strip and delivering humanitarian supplies to the Palestinian enclave. “An immediate end to the war in the Gaza Strip is necessary... continuous delivery of aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip is necessary,” the Jordanian monarch said.

The leader of the Palestinian people, Mahmoud Abbas, spoke out against the forced displacement of the Arab people from the Gaza Strip. “We warn against attempts to move our people from Gaza beyond its borders. We will not leave, we will remain on our land ,” he said. “There is no other place for the Palestinians other than their land,” Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani supported him.

During the summit, senior officials also spoke about the need to free the hostages and condemned the indiscriminate use of force through bombing , which is a violation of international law.

In a conversation with Regnum news agency , Deputy Chairman of the Association of Russian Diplomats, HSE professor Andrei Baklanov noted that the summit could help resolve several issues that are significant for the Arab states and Palestinians.

Firstly, for the organizers of the event, the Egyptians (and not only for them), it is important to block the idea of expelling Palestinians from the territory where they lived to the territory of neighboring Arab countries. The Palestinian problem “cannot be eliminated without a fair solution, and this will not happen at the expense of Egypt , ” al-Sisi explained during the opening of the summit. Amman also rejects the idea of moving Palestinians: “No refugees in Jordan,” Abdullah II previously noted.

The second important issue for the assembled politicians is preventing the possible expansion of confrontation to other territories of the Middle East, in particular to the West Bank and Lebanon, Baklanov notes.

Finally, the expert says, politicians can agree on restoring the system of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians, which has been experiencing funding problems for several years now. “The question will be about restoring in full the activities of UNRWA (the UN agency involved in helping Palestinian refugees in Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. - Ed. ) to finance support programs, food and other, for Palestinians, primarily Palestinian refugees,” explains IA Regnum’s interlocutor.

... AND MODEST RESULTS
In fact, based on the results of the summit, it can be said that its Arab participants limited themselves to statements, demonstrative condemnations and general agreement on the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip. They failed to reach consensus, take a stronger position and collectively resort to serious action to achieve the goals of the event.

In addition, there are also significant differences between the Arab countries and Western representatives who took part in the summit, in particular on the issues of a ceasefire and condemnation of the actions of Israel and Hamas. Some European leaders had previously refused to participate in the summit due to disagreements over the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Israel itself, by the way, did not take part in the event. “Israeli politicians have made it clear that Israel will not participate in a regional summit on the ongoing war, which is due to take place on Saturday in Cairo,” local newspaper Haaretz previously wrote.

Andrei Baklanov notes that the presence of the UN and the organization’s secretary general there played an important role in Tel Aviv’s refusal to participate in the summit. “The Israelis have always been very skeptical about this structure,” the expert explained.

The absence of Iranian representatives at the summit , as well as high-ranking US officials , also does not work in favor of the event organized by Egypt. “The United States and Iran are the two main external actors that may in the future be involved in this conflict. This is another factor that this summit is unlikely to bring any fundamental change in the situation,” says Boris Dolgov, senior researcher at the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in an interview with IA Regnum.

According to Lebanese politician Walid Jumblatt, whose words are quoted by Politico , the diplomats who came to Cairo would not have been able to achieve a major breakthrough. “They are not players,” said Jumblatt. - They have no influence. Three players - Israel, Iran and America."

Earlier, Reuters, citing diplomatic sources, reported that the parties were unlikely to be able to make a full-fledged joint statement. Such pessimism was justified: in the evening , Sky News Arabia reported that participants in the Cairo summit on Palestine did not accept the final statement due to the above-mentioned disagreements.

This suggests that the event is unlikely to have a chance to seriously influence the further course of events in the Middle East. “The specific further dynamics of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict now depend to a large extent on what decision the Israeli leadership makes,” notes Dolgov.

PREPARING FOR THE WORST
At this time, judging by the events taking place against the backdrop of the meeting, the conflict is not subsiding, and the warring parties continue to prepare for the worst outcome of events.

On Saturday evening, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Avichai Adri announced that Israel was implementing a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip. He explained that currently “nothing comes to the Palestinian enclave from Israeli territory,” including water, electricity and medicine. As Israeli Ambassador to Russia Alexander Ben Zvi reported, the Israeli leadership does not currently see an agenda for negotiations on Palestine.

The surprise attack by Hamas was devastating for Tel Aviv's reputation. “This is our September 11th,” admitted Major Nir Dinar, IDF spokesman. “They took us by surprise.”

“In order to rehabilitate themselves in the eyes of Israeli public opinion, the Israeli leadership, it seems to me, will go for a military ground operation, despite attempts to find some other methods of resolving the conflict,” says Boris Dolgov.

In turn, the Lebanese Hezbollah movement continues to strike IDF military targets in northern Israel, and the Palestinian Hamas movement shells Israeli cities. In the Gaza Strip itself, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.

Israel's neighbors prioritize their own problems. In particular, both the Egyptian President and the King of Jordan are concerned about the security of their countries due to the possible displacement of the population of Gaza, which they opposed at the summit.

Yes, the Egyptian authorities, of course, very, very condemn Israel for attacks on civilians, but they are not willing to open corridors for the movement of refugees from the Gaza Strip . So do the Jordanian authorities . Arab countries are not going to intervene more actively on the side of the Palestinians. Protests and remarks on social networks hardly bother Tel Aviv.

On the eve of the summit, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that “if it is not possible to ensure lasting peace, then the alternative will be very bad - large-scale war and instability in the region . ” And the past “peace summit” failed to cope with the task of containing the situation.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Druze politician says Iran gains in Lebanon as Arabs abandon it

2022-01-28

[JPost] "Give us money, or we'll become Iranian Proxies...because we've done so well under their thumb so far"
Druze leader Walid Jumblatt said on Thursday that Iran had gained more power in Lebanon because Arab states had abandoned the country, and that nobody could replace Sunni leader Saad al-Hariri after his decision to step away from politics.

In an interview with broadcaster MTV, Jumblatt also stepped up his criticism of the Iran-backed Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah, the country's dominant party, saying Lebanon was not a rocket-launching platform, in reference to its vast arsenal.

Jumblatt said that he had agreed with Russian officials during a recent visit to Moscow that what he described as the Arabs' abandonment of Lebanon had given more power to Iran.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun designated Sunni Muslim politician Saad al-Hariri as prime minister

2020-10-23

[TWITTER]

#Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun designated Sunni Muslim politician Saad al-Hariri as prime minister on Thursday. Hariri was backed by his own Future lawmakers, the Shi’ite Amal party, Druze politician Walid Jumblatt’s party and other small blocs.#Hariri https://t.co/3Z1bc1bGmt
— Daily Times (@dailytimespak) October 22, 2020

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Samir Geagea calls on all parties to resign from Hariri cabinet

2019-10-21

[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The head of the Lebanese Forces
A Christian political party founded by Bashir Gemayel, who was then bumped off when he was elected president of Leb...
Party (LF)

Samir Geagea
... Geagea was imprisoned by the Syrians and their puppets for 11 years in a dungeon in the third basement level of the Lebanese Ministry of Defense. He was released after the Cedar Revolution in 2005 ...
said on Sunday that the Lebanese streets which are flooded with protesters waving the Lebanese flag are real scenes echoing "a deep crisis that has crumbled the country’s economy."

Geagea, in an interview with Al Hadath news channel, called upon all political blocs to resign from Saad Hariri
...Second son of Rafik Hariri, the Leb PM who was assassinated in 2005. He has was prime minister in his own right from 2009 through early 2011. He was born in Riyadh to an Iraqi mother and graduated from Georgetown University. He managed his father's business interests in Riyadh until his father's assassination. When his father died he inherited a fortune of some $4.1 billion, which won't do him much good if Hizbullah has him bumped off, too....
government on Sunday night.

A day earlier, Geagea announced the resignation of the Lebanese Forces Party’s four ministers from Saad Hariri’s government.

Geagea told Al Hadath the national unity government has become a failure due to the existence of "multiple opinions" and the inability to implement."

"We cannot tackle all the problems at once, let’s begin with a technocratic government," Geagea said.

"We demand a government of competence from successful personalities with clean hands," the party leader said adding that "if a government is formed different from its predecessors, the street (public) will be satisfied immediately."

"The crisis exceeded all reform proposals due to the mistrust between the people and the ruling government," he added.

In an earlier interview with local Lebanese TV Al Jadeed earlier on Sunday, Geagea said: "If we are late, I think what follows is worse, I call upon President (Saad) Hariri to approach a new cabinet."

He also added that he expects the resignation of the ministers of the Progressive Socialist Party’s bloc later in the day.

On Saturday, the Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Wally Jumblat
...Druze politician, head of the Progressive Socialist Party, who's been on every side in Leb at least four times. He'll sell you his friends for a dollar, but family comes higher because of shipping and handling...
denied reports of his request to his party’s ministers to resign from the Lebanese government.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Lebanon parliament fails again to elect new president

2014-08-13

The Lebanese parliament failed Tuesday for the tenth consecutive time to elect a new president to replace incumbent president Michel Suleiman because of lack of the required quorum.

Speaker Nabih Berri called for a new session to be held on September 2, after no one won two thirds of the parliament as required by the constitution.

The western-backed March 14 alliance is backing head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea as candidate for the post, while the Syrian-Iranian backed March 8 camp has not declared the candidacy of any of its components as MP Michel Aoun, one of its prominent leaders, insist on running to the post as a consensual candidate.

Centrist Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblatt announced the candidacy of the Gathering member MP Henri Helou.

Because of the sharp division among the political forces in the parliament, the presidential elections have failed so far on none occasions to conclude as the constitution requires the presence of two thirds of the 128-member parliament which is far from being achieved.

Since May 25, the government of Prime Minister Tammam Salam is running the country according to a constitutional article that stipulates that in the absence of a president, the cabinet will take charge of the post until the election of a new president.

Might not be the worst thing to happen...

Lebanon has witnessed a vacuum in the presidency post in the past following the end of the term of former President Emile Lahoud in 2007 and following the end of the term of former President Amine Gemayel in 1988.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Lebanon presidential vote put off indefinitely

2014-05-24

Lebanonâs presidential vote was postponed indefinitely on Thursday, with no agreement between two rival blocs, just three days away from the end of President Michel Sleimanâs mandate.

âDue to the lack of quorum, as 73 MPs (out of 128) were present, parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri announced that parliament will remain in session until the end of the presidential mandate, and if there are any developments, he will invite the deputies to vote,â said to a statement carried by the official National News Agency.

Should no president be chosen, the government will assume full executive powers -- a situation Lebanon already faced in 1988 and 2007.

What's Walid Jumblatt up to? Let him do it for a while...

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

I support Al-Nusra Front against the Syrian regime, Wally sez says

2013-03-07

[Al Ahram] Lebanon's Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has sided with the rebel Al-Nusra Front, a jihadist group which Washington lists as a "terrorist organisation', in the Syrian conflict.

"I support Al-Nusra Front against the Syrian regime," Jumblatt said in an interview with Al-Akhbar newspaper published on Wednesday.

"The Syrian people has the right to side with the devil -- except with Israel -- against the regime," said Jumblatt, a fierce foe of President Bashar al-Assad although he was once an ally of his late predecessor and father, Hafez al-Assad.

"I am acting to protect the (Syrian) Druze. The Alawites (Assad's community) will go back to their mountain, but the Druze live in a sea of Sunnis," said Jumblatt.

While most anti-Assad rebels -- like the majority of Syria's population -- are Sunni, the country's minorities have mostly stayed on the sidelines of the two-year-old conflict in Lebanon's neighbour.

Among them are Syria's Druze, many of who live in the south, next to the majority Sunni area of Hauran.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Jumblatt prefers stability to justice

2011-07-02

Of course he does. And most of all, he prefers to live.

BEIRUT: A key Hezbollah ally on Friday warned that an international indictment of members of the group in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri could lead to new civil strife in Lebanon.

A senior Hezbollah member was among four people named in an indictment by the UN-backed tribunal investigating Hariri's 2005 assassination. The group denies any role in the killing and has vowed never to turn over any of its members.

Druze leader Walid Jumblatt called for stability over justice. He pointed to widespread fears that the case could further divide the country, which has been recovering from decades of bloodshed, including a 15-year civil war that ended in 1990 and recent sectarian battles.

"As much as justice is important for the martyrs and the wounded, so too civil peace and stability is the hoped for future," he said at a news conference. "Civil peace is more important than anything else."

Jumblatt's support is crucial if Lebanese authorities are to cooperate with prosecutors of the international court, which issued the indictments on Thursday. Lebanese authorities have until the end of July to serve the indictments on suspects or execute arrest warrants. If they fail, the court can then order the indictment published and advertised in local media.

One of the people named is Mustafa Badreddine, believed to have been Hezbollah's deputy military commander. The other suspects are: Salim Ayyash, also known as Abu Salim; Assad Sabra and Hassan Anise, who changed his name to Hassan Issa, according to a Lebanese judicial official who did not want to be identified.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Leadership is sacrifice

2011-01-24

By Tariq Alhomayed
I have often heard men say that the King of the Arabians, Sheikh of the Burning Sands, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques , King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, had a lot of respect and appreciation for the late Kamal Jumblatt. The King believes that Jumblatt held a stance which ultimately cost him his life, but he never compromised his position.

I recalled this after a recent presser, in which Walid Wally Jumblat
... who's been on every side in Leb at least four times...
t, the son of the late Lebanese leader, declared that he had changed his allegiances [regarding the nomination of the next Prime Minster], and joined forces with Syria and Hezbullies. This move was considered a complete reversal of his previous position, and thus there is a clear difference between the son and his father! Walid says that he wants to maintain civil peace in Leb, and this desire is both sincere and noble. It is a desire which I have repeatedly heard from Jumblatt himself, whether over the telephone or in person during my last interview with him in Beirut. However,
The infamous However...
this is also one of the most important reasons to hold everyone to the International Tribunal, in order to put an end to liquidations and political crimes, and furthermore to put an end to the manipulation of Leb, and the constant threats to its unity, sects, and above all, its existence.

Regarding Jumblatt's recent statements, some believe that he has not completely closed the door on the March 14
Those are the good guys, insofar as Leb has good guys...
th Alliance, which he insinuated by saying he had joined Syria and Hezbullies. It could be that his deputies hold a different stance regarding nominations for the next Prime Minister. The irony is that Hezbullies and its allies, and those behind them of course, want to nominate Omar Karami as Prime Minster...the man who held that very post when Rafik Hariri was assassinated, yet today he is being put forth as a candidate to lead a government intending to abolish the Hariri Tribunal! I was thoroughly convinced by what Eli Maroni, a member of al-Kata'ib bloc, said the day before yesterday in our newspaper, stating "MP Jumblatt's move to stand with Syria and Hezbullies was imposed upon him by threats and intimidation. This happened as a result of the strong presence of armed Hezbullies forces of Evil between my town Qmatiye and Aley (all predominantly Druze areas). This has left the Lebanese in a state of constant anxiety, stemming from the fear of weapons". I sensed this much from sporadic conversations with Walid Jumblatt, and I have also heard such comments from those close to Jumblatt himself, and others who are in communication with him.

Thus someone might say Walid Jumblatt is changing his stance based on a rational motive; to protect his followers, the Druze. This is true, for it is the duty of a leader, any leader, to take into account the interests of those who follow him. However,
The infamous However...
only taking the interests of supporters into account is an act of self-preservation, whereas it is also the duty of the leader to achieve a larger objective, namely the preservation of the Lebanese state. He must protect all components of Leb, including the Druze, but not at the expense of others. If Leb does indeed end up with a government led by Iran and Syria, as hinted by Samir Geagea,
... Geagea was imprisoned by the Syrians and their puppets for 11 years in a dungeon in the third basement level of the Lebanese Ministry of Defense. He was released after the Cedar Revolution in 2005 ...
this will mean an end to the Lebanese state, and even an end to the Druze community. They will either be transformed into followers of the Wali al-Faqih, or handed over to the intelligence services.

To give Leb to Iran, with the blessing of the Lebanese leaders, is both cowardly and weak. [Lebanese leaders] ought to be reminded of the piece of history that I am recalling today, that Kamal Jumblatt was a brave man and uncompromising in his positions. Therefore we say to Mr. Walid Jumblatt: leadership is sacrifice.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Hezbollahs position was greatest obstacle to mediation — Turkish sources

2011-01-23

[Asharq al-Aswat] The scene in Leb is still unclear after Druze MP Walid Wally Jumblat
... who's been on every side in Leb at least four times...
t, and his Progressive Socialist Party threw their support behind "Syria and the resistance." A last-minute agreement could still be reached between the Lebanese parties that would ensure a national unity government in Leb, rather than a government made up of one colour or party, which is something that many people would prefer to avoid.

A prominent Turkish source informed Asharq Al-Awsat that the announcement of the end of the Turkish -- Qatari mediation attempts does not mean that Ankara will stop its efforts in this regard. The source also clarified that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu left Leb for Istanbul due to a prior engagement, and that he is set to return to Beirut in order to monitor the "details" of the Lebanese file. The Turkish source added that "ideas are currently being circulated within the Turkish Foreign Ministry [with regards to Leb]" and that these ideas will be revealed to the relevant parties in due course. The source added that Turkey is in direct communication with the countries involved in the Lebanese file, including Syria, Soddy Arabia, and Qatar, as well as the USA.

The senior Turkish source also stressed to Asharq Al-Awsat that "stability is a very important factor for Leb" warning against any negative developments in this regard, particularly during this critical period, "as this could lead to serious complications, not just for Leb, but for the region as a whole."

The source added that Turkey has good relations with Syria, and that "the Syrians listen to us very well." The Turkish source also made clear that Ankara had been prevented from achieving "positive and immediate results" due to complications. The source stressed Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to be concerned with bridging the gap between the Lebanese leaders, and that he had been supportive of the "Saudi -- Syrian" efforts in this regard. The Turkish source told Asharq Al-Awsat that after Soddy Arabia announced it was halting its efforts in this regard, Ankara -- along with Qatar -- sought to "secure communication between the [Lebanese] leaders, however the conservative position of Hezbullies with regards to the return of Prime Minister Saad Hariri was a huge obstacle that was difficult to circumvent, especially as the Hezbullies Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah held an extreme position [with regards to this]."

As for Beirut, the scene returned to uncertainty after MP Walid Jumblatt announced his support for "Syria and the resistance", which is something that sources within the Progressive Socialist Party confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat was "an announcement that he would vote in support of the March 8 Alliance."

Ministerial sources also informed Asharq Al-Awsat that Lebanese President Michel Suleiman may accept proposals for the formation of a single-party government "in order to make room for the democratic game, after the experience of a unity government failed to achieve results." The source also told Asharq Al-Awsat that President Suleiman will accept the parliamentary consultation results as being, and that the final say with regards to the acceptance or rejection of a government will reside with them.

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