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WikiLeaks: Jumblat and Hamadeh Lamented Israel’s Weakness in 2006 War

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and MP Marwan Hamadeh have reportedly warned that Hizbullah would continue to attack Israel even if both parties reached a ceasefire.

According to a WikiLeaks cable published by al-Akhbar daily, Jumblat and Hamadeh told U.S. diplomats during a dinner on August 6, 2006 that Speaker Nabih Berri and Hizbullah should be pressured into accepting a ceasefire.

In his remarks to the diplomats, Jumblat expressed regret at Israel’s failure to make the right assessment on Hizbullah’s capabilities in ground operations, said al-Akhbar.

Hamadeh also reportedly stressed that pressure on the Shiite party and Berri should come through an Israeli invasion of the south and more destruction, saying that the occupation of southern villages would be a blow to Hizbullah because the towns had been liberated from Israeli occupation in the year 2000.

They stressed that Lebanon’s ties with Iran and Syria should be weakened in order to consolidate the country.


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