Jumblat: I Didn't Betray Rafik Hariri, Sometimes We Must Forget about Truth for Stability's Sake

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Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Monday stressed that he has not betrayed the memory of slain premier Rafik Hariri.

“I’m cautioning against the threats. I am with justice and stability but sometimes it is better to forget about truth for the sake of stability,” Jumblat said in an interview on MTV.

“My theory is that stability and justice should go together, because should justice lead to instability we would not be doing justice to Rafik Hariri,” Jumblat added.

Addressing MP Bahia Hariri, the sister of the slain premier, Jumblat said “it is true that ‘tons of spite’ had killed Rafik Hariri, but tons of spite might explode following the (recent) release of the (Special Tribunal for Lebanon) indictment because of the game of nations.”

Jumblat warned against employing the indictment in efforts to disarm Hizbullah, noting that “there is no link between weapons and the fulfilling of justice, because the issue of arms should be resolved through dialogue.”

The Druze leader stressed that Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s government is “committed to the international resolutions,” noting that “there is a campaign to strip Miqati of his patriotism and Sunni identity.

“Before Miqati (was designated as premier), someone had at least agreed on preventing the domestic repercussions of the indictment,” Jumblat said, referring to former premier Saad Hariri, the slain premier’s son.

“I believe that civil peace is in danger and we may start with a tribunal and its repercussions and end somewhere else,” he warned.

Addressing the controversial issue of Hizbullah’s weapons, Jumblat said: “I’m optimistic because one day we will reach an agreement and these arms will become in the possession of the Lebanese State and I’m not afraid of time.”

“I’m with returning to the national dialogue table and I’m not with one of (Hizbullah chief) Sayyed (Hassan) Nasrallah’s statements in which he said he was against dialogue,” Jumblat added.

“If a certain group believes that Hizbullah might be involved in the assassination, we must talk with them and sit with them around the dialogue table,” he advised.

Jumblat stressed that “no party can eliminate its rivals in this country, no matter how strong it may be.”

Commenting on the shift in his political alliances following the 2009 parliamentary elections, Jumblat said his new political alignment “spared the country a Druze-Shiite strife that could have spread across Lebanon” during the infamous May 2008 clashes.

Timeline
  • 11 July 2011, 22:27

    Jumblat: No party can eliminate its rivals in this country, no matter how strong it may be.

  • 11 July 2011, 22:24

    Jumblat: There is no link between weapons and the fulfilling of justice, because the issue of arms should be resolved through dialogue.

  • 11 July 2011, 22:23

    Jumblat: I’m with returning to the national dialogue table and I’m not with one of Sayyed Nasrallah’s statements in which he said he was against dialogue. If a certain group believes that Hizbullah might be involved in the assassination, we must talk with them and sit with them around the dialogue table.

  • 11 July 2011, 22:20

    Jumblat: I’m optimistic because one day we will reach an agreement and these (Hizbullah’s) arms will become in the possession of the Lebanese State and I’m not afraid of time.

  • 11 July 2011, 22:04

    Jumblat: Fate has been protecting me, and maybe the settlement I made on May 11 (2008) is what had protected me. I believe that civil peace is in danger and we may start with a tribunal and its repercussions and end somewhere else.

  • 11 July 2011, 21:59

    Jumblat: My political alignment spared the country a Druze-Shiite strife that could have spread across Lebanon.

  • 11 July 2011, 21:52

    Jumblat: I have not betrayed Rafik Hariri, but I’m cautioning against the threats. I am with justice and stability but sometimes it is better to forget about truth for the sake of stability.

  • 11 July 2011, 21:50

    Jumblat: We are committed to the international resolutions and there is a campaign to strip Miqati of his patriotism and Sunni identity, and before Miqati was designated as premier someone had at least agreed on preventing the domestic repercussions of the indictment.

  • 11 July 2011, 21:47

    Jumblat to Bahia Hariri: It’s true that “tons of spite” had killed Rafik Hariri, but tons of spite might explode following the release of the (STL) indictment because of the game of nations.

  • 11 July 2011, 21:41

    Jumblat: We were hoping to reach a solution through the Saudi-Syrian initiative, but the interests of major world powers intersected and torpedoed it and someone said “No to Saad Hariri and no to a settlement.”

  • 11 July 2011, 21:40

    Jumblat: My theory is that stability and justice should go together, because should justice lead to instability we would not be doing justice to Rafik Hariri.

  • 11 July 2011, 21:32

    PSP leader MP Walid Jumblat to MTV: I haven’t change my position on the STL but there’s a misunderstanding and politics is a series of contradictions and changes and we must adapt with the changes.

Comments 42
Default-user-icon HB (Guest) 11 July 2011, 21:49

here we go - flip flopper starts his interview (ta3a wla tijji)

Thumb shab 11 July 2011, 22:09

Let it explode. We want justice

Default-user-icon melkadri (Guest) 11 July 2011, 22:31

Why don't you come out ans tell the truth...they either bribed you or threatened you

Default-user-icon ME (Guest) 11 July 2011, 22:34

You liked him when he was on your side, our turn, so man up and shut up!

Default-user-icon serge (Guest) 11 July 2011, 22:36

Satbility without justice is a fake stability where the killers continue assasinating political figures or whom they disagree with at their pleasrue knowing they can always get away with it. I would like to ask Mr. Jumblat, is this the kind of country you want to build one without justice?

Thumb shab 11 July 2011, 22:57

No we'll not forget about truth for the sake of stability.those times are over. trife dosen't vanish because we bury our heads in the sand. You are wrong again and again. Typical old fashioned sect thinking.

Default-user-icon Hassan (Guest) 11 July 2011, 23:00

Saad thought that king Abdallah was dying. That is why he turned his back on his Saudi-Syrian initiative. He embrassed the f... wahabi Bandar bin Sultan line to shun dialogue and fight hezbollah. This upset Jumblat and caused him to drop Hariri.
And this caused Abdallah to get open files on Oger which are putting Oger on the brink of bankrupcy. Now not only are Lebanese suppliers and employees of Oger suffering, also we are stuck with Hezbollah, the party of weapons who thinks he is above the law, to control the country. Thank you Saad for your stupid move. This is what happens when we put an inexperienced boy as prime minister. Hopefully Miqati will pick up the pieces and limit the damage.

Default-user-icon neutral (Guest) 11 July 2011, 23:12

watch him change if syria falls. He is with the highest bidder. He toppled march 14 after he got payed. What a joke. What is he living off? i want to know.

Default-user-icon me (Guest) 11 July 2011, 23:13

"You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war."

This was Winston Churchill's statement after Neville Chamberlain returned from signing the Munich Pact with Hitler.

I wonder if by replacing the word dishonor with injustice the above still holds - Quite frankly, I hope it does not !

Missing mansour 11 July 2011, 23:19

What a coward, he even admits he changed sides just to save his own skin.You Sir are a disgrace to all the martyrs of Lebanon for have fought for TRUE civil peace from the civil war to the present day.You will go down in history as the biggest coward who sold his soul to Iran and Syria.Thank you

Default-user-icon rr (Guest) 11 July 2011, 23:36

دم رفيق الحريري إلي عمل منك رجال

Default-user-icon jabal amel (Guest) 11 July 2011, 23:49

yes shab...we want justice...we want all you zionist agents in jail

Default-user-icon jabal amel (Guest) 11 July 2011, 23:49

i guess he wants to forget how he was paid to change side to the march 14 traitors and how he revealed the resistance network that was in use against zionists only. but walid, we do not forget. if you claim now that hezb'allah killed rafiq than you can freely change sides again and take down this goverment. yes, get harriri back to the power. you think it will change anything? of course not, you flipfloper. you will just be punished on next elections.

Default-user-icon John Holmes (Guest) 11 July 2011, 23:55

So in his above statement he very clearly says that HA did it but we need to turn a blind eye because they are threatening to do away with me.

We do not want strife either but by doing what you did, any Tom Dick or Harry could come in, kill our PM and because they are powerful, we pat them on the back and offer to assist them should they require it.

A true patriot does not succumb to this type of pressure even if in danger. You sir are no patriot but a true coward.

Default-user-icon td (Guest) 11 July 2011, 23:59

You are indirectly responsible for spilling the blood of Rafik Hariri. By bowing to your masters and refusing to tell the truth about the murder of your father, the killers went on their killing spree with impunity. The truth about the murder of Kamal Jumblat and the fight for justice could have saved many lives. Enough is enough. There is no real peace without the truth and justice.

Thumb Marc 12 July 2011, 00:07

If you read between the lines, he practically agreeing with the indictment or at least the arrest warrants... He is just trying to have a different approach in dealing with them. My problem is, if someone gets away with a murder, he will go and do it again... Justice has to be served!

Default-user-icon Umberto (Guest) 12 July 2011, 00:33

Obviously he had to leave M14, the Mossad and CIA infested Hezbollah threatened to attack the Shouf again. Notice he still has not retracted his accusations that the car bombs that kill all these people came from Dahieh and the Mossad and CIA infested Hezbollah.did not deny those accusations

Default-user-icon Beiruti (Guest) 12 July 2011, 00:42

He is talking pure nonsense. There is no such thing as achieving civil peace and stability by abandoning the truth and the justice system which seeks and is based upon the truth. Quite the opposite, instability is the product of attempting to avoid the truth and of a lack of justice. Look at Syria today. Just look. Forty years of avoiding the truth and avoiding justice does not make grievances go away, it just allows them to simmer until one day they explode. And now they have exploded.

According to Jumblatt's theory of justice, if the accused threatens to disturb the peace if the authorities attempt an arrest of the accused, then the proper response of the authorities is to abandoned the effort of arresting the accused.
Carried further, the criminal justice system should never even investigate the alleged crimes of persons who would disturb civil peace, because the arrest warrant could never be executed.
This leaves civil society hostage to guns, which is where Lebanon is.

Default-user-icon Former Lebanese (Guest) 12 July 2011, 00:45

It is a bit ridiculous the amount of constant bickering of how the STL is politicized and how it's goals are not benefiting Lebanon but it's intentions are to serve USA and Israel.

How can you have stability when you know at any moments the killers can kill more people and leaders and get away with it? How can you live knowing that at any moment you might get killed and the killer will go away with it. This is like saying let's have a Syria or Iran and shut up. The idea is just so absurd that I can't believe anyone is saying it.

Regarding the STL being politicized newsflash: the reason for Hariri's murder is because of politics. There are hundreds of people being involved in this tribunal, many of them have access to read the files, the idea that some of them might leak some data to the public is inevitable. However injecting data is much more difficult because of the nature of how the data is stored and interconnected.

At the end if we can't trust the STL whom can we?

Thumb bashir 12 July 2011, 01:38

Walid has no moral compass, his father would be so ashamed of him.

Default-user-icon The Truth (Guest) 12 July 2011, 01:48

So basically he's saying HA was behind the assassination of Hariri, also he was the first to accuse the Hizb of involvement a long time ago in '06 I think. Talking about the car being prepared in Dahiyeh and all that.

Default-user-icon The Truth (Guest) 12 July 2011, 01:50

So basically he's saying HA was behind the assassination of Hariri, also he was the first to accuse the Hizb of involvement a long time ago in '06 I think. Talking about the car being prepared in Dahiyeh and all that.

Default-user-icon MUSTAPHA O. GHALAYINI (Guest) 12 July 2011, 01:59

ya walid u'll be the first "fatality" of stability based on criminality

Thumb shab 12 July 2011, 02:06

He didn't betray Hariri, only the rest of the living Lebanese.

Default-user-icon Druze r us (Guest) 12 July 2011, 02:09

Trusting an assassin to provide stability is the height of naivete mr Walid Beyk . Shame on you for kowtowing to the murderers .

Missing mabboud 12 July 2011, 02:37

me... your comment Churchill/Chamberlain is very nicely put; however, I'm afraid it coud be worth: have war and no Justice. Take care

Default-user-icon 3aramoun (Guest) 12 July 2011, 03:25

3ayb! Wlik 3ayb!
Perhaps we should also forget about the truth that at least in July 2006, Hizb-Allah was not the offender but Israel was, because that will certainly appease the Israelis and the Americans and will certainly guarantee a more "stable" border in our South. Perhaps we should also forget about the truth of who killed Kamal Jumblat, because otherwise that may rock the boat and we won't have too much stability then, right Walid?
And you dare claim you are a Durzi? Why you aren't even a believer! I'm supposing you're not yet 40 years old, ya Bèk, because you don't seem to have read a page of the Munfarid bi Thatihi so that you blaspheme Truth with such impunity! It is certainly not "Fate" that has protected you: it is your cowardice, and your willing to get on your knees to save your neck.
Jursa lal'Druz, lal'Libneniyé, w la kil el-3arab!

Default-user-icon Ali (Guest) 12 July 2011, 03:26

“If a certain group believes that Hizbullah might be involved in the assassination, we must talk with them and sit with them around the dialogue table,” he advised.

This is how Jumblat intends to build a state and support institutions! Instead of arresting the killers, he suggests we should sit down and talk to them over a cup of coffee and some sweets. Go ..... yourself.

Default-user-icon me (Guest) 12 July 2011, 04:26

To the guy using the pseudonym ME (capital letters) - If you don't mind can you please use another pseudonym just to avoid confusion between ME and me.

Because me is me.

Thanks,
me

Default-user-icon JP (Guest) 12 July 2011, 06:03

Jumblat wants us to live with a Lebanese party that was involved with Haines crimes that claimed our Prime Minister and a number of other patriotic martyrs. I believe if justice is not served and if Hizbulla does not admit to this crime, the anger with many of the Lebanese will brew until it erupts in civil war. No one is against the shites, our Lebanese brethern, but we cannot accept a party in parlaiment that was involved in a terrosit act against its sate and people. As the license plate in New Hempshire states says - ""live free or die.

Thumb ado.australia 12 July 2011, 06:30

Sorry big dig, I must disagree. He is exactly what's wrong with Lebanese politics. He is nothing but a feudal sectarian ruler of his fiefdom. He doesn't care about Lebanon but only his sect. He would sell out Lebanon for his sect and would not give a crap if the whole of the south, bekka, metn and north Lebanon burnt to the ground as long as the chouf and alley were untouched. However, I do hope I am wrong.

Default-user-icon Arz10452 (Guest) 12 July 2011, 06:38

Jumblatt again finds himself on the opposite side of future currents. He does not have to worry too much longer about his safety, Syria's Assad is about to disappear (within 9 months) and HA's power in Lebanon will decrease considerably.

Default-user-icon Le Phenicien (Guest) 12 July 2011, 07:14

Who is rafik hariri ? you mean to say saad hariri the one hiding in France ..!!

Missing mansour 12 July 2011, 09:04

Bigdig so you telling us that you watched the interview and JumBlatt didn't say the quotes he said?
I Think you were mesmerized by his beauty to even hear a word he said.
This guy and rest of the cowards need to be shipped out of Lebanon real quick.Thank you

Default-user-icon Truth (Guest) 12 July 2011, 10:24

I like the word 'sometimes' in Joumblatt's statement.It clearly means, only when the criminal is stronger than the rule of Law, stronger than the police, than the army, should me come to common sense, wisdom, and bow to his blackmail! This calls for the following remarks:
An implicit admission of the Hezb ( and others bigger than the Hezb) guilt, because only they could disrupt by force civil peace.
'Sometimes' refer to a repetitive event, and indeed the absence of punishment and deterrent means that what has been used as a means to grab power, could be easily used again if not contained

Assassinations have been used as a routine political managment tool and that doesn't only refer to RH's assassination but also to all other politicians and public figures that had the same fate.
If it were proven the Hezb and many others have plotted, incited, executed those assassinations - and what we're talking about here is scientific forensic painstkingly collected evidence despite

Thumb thepatriot 12 July 2011, 10:36

@ Bigdig
Dude...are you high??
"his sence of fairness and his concious..." ?????
Did u even hear or read what the guy said!!!???

Default-user-icon Truth (Guest) 12 July 2011, 10:38

So despite the obstruction, deceiving tactics ( are they behind the false witnesses?) on the part of those who infilttrated the state and security apparatuses at all levels and who knew preciselyfrom the beginning how fast the circle was closing on them) so what's extraordinary is that they find themselves accused but have managed to be at the helm of the boat.

Only a powerful organisation such as an international tribunal with the full force of the UN Behind them can ultimately subdue a rebellious lawless force.

Finally, justice IS the cornerstone to stability, the starting point of any collective peaceful sustainable social order and not a threat to it unless someone has designed it to be so! On the contrary the most formidable threat to social peace is the absence of justice and the likeness it will push people to seek justice by themselves, no matter how long it takes. With the changes taking place in the reguon that won t be 300 years!

Default-user-icon JP (Guest) 12 July 2011, 13:34

So what is the truth that we must forget! The truth that Hizballah was the one that was involved in murdering Prime Minister Harriri? Noticed in this interview that he did not defend much the fact the Hizballah members were involved in the killing

Missing mabboud 12 July 2011, 14:31

WJ beyk is playing it safely as usual, opening a back door for what could come next... he isn't that credible, he never was

His intentions r neither good or bad, it's the survival of his sect and its "king doer" that is the most important for him... he can be seen as a wise man from and for his people but never ever as a Lebanese patriot

Missing 7osrom 12 July 2011, 15:07

Waleed Beik, I think you have caught so many viruses & worms, you need to click on Options then click restore default settings....No shame in that...

Default-user-icon Chi Fekhem (Guest) 12 July 2011, 16:28

Well it's true what he said about forgeting to protect the civil peace... After all he forgot that the syrians killed his father and he went kissing their butts. Anyway, Nothing can be said more than that.

Default-user-icon TITUS (Guest) 12 July 2011, 19:08

Justice Powers on and Criminals will be punished comewhat may!! No matter what the 2 dollar slut and flip flopping weasel Jumblat says. This clown has become just like the "Boy that cried wolf", irrelevant, not credible, and certainly not of any use to anyone certainly not to Lebanon or the Free Lebanese and cause of Justice and Peace in Lebanon and the wider Middle East... No free democratic and "progressive" country at Peace can be built except on the solid basis of Justice, transparency, and accountability to the people.