Jumblatt Ends Annual Commemoration of His Father’s Assassination after ‘Historic Justice Takes Course’

Former head of Lebanon Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) Walid Jumblatt delivers his speech during the commemoration on Sunday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Former head of Lebanon Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) Walid Jumblatt delivers his speech during the commemoration on Sunday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Jumblatt Ends Annual Commemoration of His Father’s Assassination after ‘Historic Justice Takes Course’

Former head of Lebanon Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) Walid Jumblatt delivers his speech during the commemoration on Sunday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Former head of Lebanon Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) Walid Jumblatt delivers his speech during the commemoration on Sunday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Former head of Lebanon Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt announced on Sunday he was ending the annual commemoration of the assassination of his father, Kamal, “after historic justice has taken its course.”

Jumblatt had been holding the commemoration annually since his father was assassinated by the now ousted Syrian regime on March 16, 1977.

Earlier this month, the new authorities in Syria announced the arrest of former chief of intelligence Ibrahim Huweija, who is accused of “hundreds of assassinations” under the Assad regime. He had overseen Kamal Jumblatt’s assassination.

Politicians, Druze figures and supporters across Lebanon had gathered at Mokhtara on Sunday for the 48th anniversary of the assassination.

Addressing the crowd, Jumblatt declared: “For 48 years, we had gathered on March 16 to read the Fatiha and place a red rose on Kamal Jumblatt’s grave and the grave of his companions Hafez al-Ghosseini and Fawzi Chedid. This was an occasion to forge ahead in defiance and confrontation.”

16 March 2025, Lebanon, Mokhtara: Lebanese Druze attend a ceremony to mark the 48th anniversary of the assassination of leader Kamal Jumblatt, father of Druze chief Walid Jumblatt in the village of Mokhtara. (dpa)

“During the worst of times, it was an occasion to remember and persevere, derive strength to continue living,” he added.

“Now, freedom shines in Syria at long last. The regime of oppression and injustice has collapsed after some 54 years. The Syrian people are free and the new authorities led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa have arrested the man behind Kamal Jumblatt’s assassination,” he added.

“On behalf of my family and the PSP, I declare an end to the tradition of holding the commemoration given that historic justice has taken its course albeit after some time,” he stressed.

Jumblatt said: “Mokhtara is looking forward to a new chapter in struggle and defiance in new areas, not limited to, more humanitarian socialism as advocated by Kamal Jumblatt.”

He underlined the historic reconciliation in Lebanon on August 3, 2001, that was sponsored by late Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir. The agreement lays the foundation for intra-Lebanese relations that rise above political divisions.

He also underscored the importance of “clinging on to Lebanon’s Arab identity as promoted by major thinkers, writers, politicians and nationalists. This identity has been tarnished by regimes of oppression.”

Jumblatt also stressed the need to liberate southern Lebanon from Israeli occupation, the demarcation of the border to protect Lebanese sovereignty, implementation of international resolutions, and the reconstruction of areas destroyed by the Israeli war on Hezbollah last year.

Former head of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) Walid Jumblatt (C) lays a flower on his father Kamal Jumblatt's grave during a ceremony to commemorate the 48th anniversary of his assassination in Mokhtara, Chouf Mountains, southeast of Beirut, Lebanon, 16 March 2025. (EPA)

Moreover, he called for “rebuilding Lebanese-Syrian relations on new foundations away from past experiences.”

Turning to the Druze community, he urged them to “maintain their Arab identity and protect their history of joint struggle with Arab and Syrian nationalists against colonization. Maintain your position in confronting the occupation of Arab territories in the Syrian Golan Heights.”

Commenting on the visit by Syrian Druze clerics to Israel last week, he said: “Religious visits do not negate the occupation of Palestine and the Golan.”

He called on the Druze to “preserve their Islamic heritage,” warning them against being influenced by Zionism. He also warned them against being manipulated “to divide Syria and the rest of the region under the pretext of the alliance of minorities that was opposed by Kamal Jumblatt – a stance for which he paid for with his life.”

At the end of his speech, Jumblatt declared: “We were patient, persevered and were victorious.”



Lebanon Starts Process to Disarm Palestinian Factions in Refugee Camps

A member of the joint Palestinian security force stands guard in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A member of the joint Palestinian security force stands guard in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
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Lebanon Starts Process to Disarm Palestinian Factions in Refugee Camps

A member of the joint Palestinian security force stands guard in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A member of the joint Palestinian security force stands guard in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

A group tasked with making a plan to remove weapons held by Palestinian factions in Lebanon’s refugees camps met for the first time Friday to begin hashing out a timetable and mechanism for disarming the groups.

The Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, a government body that serves as an interlocutor between Palestinian refugees and officials, said the meeting was attended by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and that “participants agreed to launch a process for the disarmament of weapons according to a specific timetable."

The group added that it also aimed to take steps to "enhance the economic and social rights of Palestinian refugees.”

A Lebanese official familiar with the discussions, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment, said work to remove the weapons would begin within a month, The AP news reported.

The meeting followed a visit by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Lebanon, during which he and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced an agreement that Palestinian factions would not use Lebanon as a launchpad for any attacks against Israel, and that weapons would be consolidated under the authority of the Lebanese government.

There are multiple Palestinian factions active in Lebanon’s refugee camps, which include Abbas’ Fatah movement, the rival Hamas group and a range of other Islamist and leftist groups.

The 12 Palestinian refugee camps aren’t under the control of Lebanese authorities, and rival groups have clashed inside the camps in recent years, inflicting casualties and affecting nearby areas.

Hamas and allied Palestinian groups also fought alongside the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah against Israel in Lebanon in a war that ended with a ceasefire in November. Hezbollah has been under increasing pressure to give up its own weapons since then.

Hamas has not commented on the decision to remove weapons from the camps. The Lebanese official said that Hamas’ office in Lebanon would be allowed to remain open if it worked only on political and not military matters.

There are nearly 500,000 Palestinians registered with UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, in Lebanon. However, the actual number in the country is believed to be around 200,000, as many have emigrated but remain on UNRWA’s roster.

They are prohibited from working in many professions, have few legal protections and can’t own property.