Jumblat: Weapons for Defending Lebanon from any Israeli Assault Should Remain

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stated on Monday that the possession of arms between various Lebanese parties should be addressed, “but the main weapons to defend Lebanon against any Israeli assault should remain.”

He told France 24: “These arms are Lebanon’s defense and fortification … Lebanon should either side with the western Israeli front or the Arab Islamic one.”

He added that he had made an assessment of the developments in Lebanon starting from the events of March 7, 2008, and “gradually I returned to the roots of the PSP and Jumblat family in defending Lebanon.”

Addressing the developments in the Arab world, the MP said that the area is being “born again”.

“We are standing before an Arab world that wants to actively take part in rule … I hope a revolution led by the Lebanese youth would take place in Lebanon away from the influence of politicians for the aim of overthrowing the sectarian system,” he added.

Earlier on Monday, Jumblat had said that the time has come to eliminate the "dark" sectarian system in Lebanon that "has infiltrated every aspect of our political, economic, social, and educational life."

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: "The sectarian system is widening the national divide instead of bridging the gap."

"Sectarianism should be eliminated as soon as possible because it leaves generations of Lebanese prisoners of discrimination between citizens," he continued.

He cited the Taif Accord that presented a mechanism to end sectarianism through forming a national body headed by the president of the republic.

"The persistence of the current failed political system will create future political crises as we have witnessed for decades and decades," the MP added.

Furthermore, Jumblat commended Sunday's youth anti-confessionalism rally, which he said may pose a suitable mechanism to create a new reality on the ground, similar to the youth movements in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen that have or started to create change to the system of rule.