Jumblat Pessimistic on Dialogue, Says Israel Drawing Demarcation Line

Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat has expressed pessimism on the ability of rival parties to resolve the presidential deadlock through dialogue and accused Israel of drawing a demarcation line between the Jewish State and Iran.

According to As Safir daily published on Thursday, Jumblat said there was no positive development in the presidential crisis despite the talks between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal representatives.

He told the newspaper that he hasn't received information on the discussions but he considers them useful for defusing sectarian tension.

He also expressed belief that the dialogue between the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement would not lead to any result.

LF chief Samir Geagea and FPM leader MP Michel Aoun, both presidential candidates, are set to meet soon.

But Jumblat told As Safir that Aoun is not likely to make any concessions.

The presidential crisis is further not likely to be resolved soon as a result of the lack of a regional and international agreement.

French presidential envoy Jean-Francois Girault's mission has hit a dead end, said Jumblat.

Girault went back and forth between Beirut, Tehran, Riyadh and the Vatican and heard from Iranian officials that the Christians have the right to choose their president under Vatican's sponsorship, said the PSP chief.

Turning to the latest Israeli attack on Hizbullah in Syria over the weekend, Jumblat said the Jewish State is drawing an “advanced demarcation line” between it and Iran.

Six Hizbullah members and an Iranian general were killed on Sunday in the Israeli air raid in the area of Quneitra on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights.

Jumblat stressed that Lebanon has the right to liberate its occupied land in the Shebaa Farms area and Kfarshouba Hills.

But said he believed that Hizbullah will assess how to steer the country clear of the repercussions of its retaliation.

G.K.

H.K.