Walid Jumblatt warns Syrian Druze to be vigilant against foreign interference, urging unity and the preservation of their identity. He addresses concerns about Israeli outreach to the Druze and calls for an end to occupation while emphasizing Lebanon’s unity and Arab identity. His remarks include a dismissal of a recent visit by Syrian Druze leaders to Israel as symbolic, asserting the unchanging nature of occupation.
Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt recently cautioned Druze communities in Syria against foreign interference, urging them to maintain unity and to resist manipulative influences aiming to divide their nation. He delivered these remarks at a ceremony in Mukhtara commemorating the 48th anniversary of his father, Kamal Jumblatt’s, assassination. Jumblatt emphasized the importance of preserving their Arab and Islamic identity while remaining vigilant against external threats.
In his address to the Druze population of Syria, Jumblatt called upon them to continue their historical resistance and to join with Syrian and Arab citizens in confronting “occupation, colonialism, and mandates imposed on the Golan.” He encouraged them to protect their Islamic heritage and warned against “Zionist infiltration,” stressing the necessity of ensuring that individuals within the communities do not become instruments for disunity in Syria.
Jumblatt’s comments were made amid rising concerns regarding enhanced Israeli outreach to Syrian Druze, which has faced criticism from regional leaders. He also announced the discontinuation of the annual commemoration of his father’s assassination, expressing that “justice has finally been served, even if it took a long time” following the arrest of Ibrahim Huwayja, who Jumblatt believes is responsible for his father’s death.
Moreover, Jumblatt reiterated the Progressive Socialist Party’s (PSP) commitment to the unity of Lebanon and its Arab identity. He emphasized the urgency for Israeli forces to withdraw entirely from southern Lebanon and called for the demarcation of borders between Lebanon and Syria, suggesting that future relations be reconstructed on new principles. Lastly, he criticized a recent delegation of approximately 100 Syrian Druze leaders who visited Israel, labeling the event as merely symbolic and stating, “a visit, religious or otherwise, will not change the fact of occupation in Palestine and the Golan Heights.”
In conclusion, Walid Jumblatt’s statements reflect a firm stance against foreign interference in Syria, particularly regarding the Druze community. His emphasis on unity, resistance against colonialism, and protection of their cultural identity is significant, especially in light of recent Israeli interactions with Syrian Druze. As Jumblatt calls for a united front and the reaffirmation of national borders, his criticisms of external influences highlight ongoing regional tensions.
Original Source: www.tehrantimes.com
