Hezbollah Accused of Seeking to Eliminate Electoral Opponents

Head of the Democratic Gathering MP Taymur Jumblatt. (NNA)
Head of the Democratic Gathering MP Taymur Jumblatt. (NNA)
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Hezbollah Accused of Seeking to Eliminate Electoral Opponents

Head of the Democratic Gathering MP Taymur Jumblatt. (NNA)
Head of the Democratic Gathering MP Taymur Jumblatt. (NNA)

The Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) and Lebanese Forces warned that the Hezbollah party and its allies were waging a "battle of elimination and existence" in the parliamentary elections.

Addressing an electoral rally in Mount Lebanon, head of the Democratic Gathering MP Taymur Jumblatt said: "You want to eliminate us, but we want partnership with everyone. You want to destroy the nation for others, while we want to build it for the Lebanese people."

"You want to hold Lebanon hostage of negotiations to protect the regime of killing and a nuclear Iran. We want a sovereign and independent Lebanon," he declared.

"Let us come together in partnership instead of elimination. This is a nation for everyone," he stressed.

The elections are set for May 15.

LF MP Antoine Habshi said Hezbollah was waging an existential battle against the Lebanese Forces in eastern Lebanon.

Speaking at a press conference he remarked that the electoral battle in the Baalbek-al-Hermel district had recently taken a turn towards violence and intimidation instead of freedom and democracy.

He held the Interior Ministry and security forces responsible for the violations. He also said Hezbollah would be blamed for "any drop of blood spilled."

The MP had held the conference after three out of six Shiite electoral candidates withdrew from the same list that is backed by the LF in the Baalbek-al-Hermel district.

The LF said they were forced to quit the race after being pressured by Hezbollah.

Moreover, Habshi charged that Hezbollah was bribing opponents a million Lebanese pounds and voters two million pounds so they would not take part in the elections.

He added that the party was even confiscating the identification cards of Shiite opponents to prevent them from voting.

The party dismissed the claims, saying they were part of a smear campaign against it.

Party MP Hassan Ezzedine said: "We are competing so that the turnout would be very high We are therefore seeking not only the victory of Hezbollah lists, but also the national ones that were formed through alliances between Hezbollah and its allies across the country."

He stressed that the party had formed national lists and were competing for victory in the elections that "would shape a new political scene that wants to address the country's crises and the people's suffering."



Israeli Strike on West Bank Kills 2

Israeli troops patrol in the Nur Shams refugee camp, near the West Bank city of Tulkarem, 27 January 2025. (EPA)
Israeli troops patrol in the Nur Shams refugee camp, near the West Bank city of Tulkarem, 27 January 2025. (EPA)
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Israeli Strike on West Bank Kills 2

Israeli troops patrol in the Nur Shams refugee camp, near the West Bank city of Tulkarem, 27 January 2025. (EPA)
Israeli troops patrol in the Nur Shams refugee camp, near the West Bank city of Tulkarem, 27 January 2025. (EPA)

Israel has carried out a strike on a vehicle in the occupied West Bank, killing two people and wounding another three.

The Palestinian Health Ministry reported the casualties from Monday’s strike in the built-up Nur Shams refugee camp. It has been the scene of several Israeli military raids in recent months targeting Palestinian gunmen.

Hamas said the two killed were fighters in its armed wing.

Another Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire in the urban Qalandiya refugee camp near Jerusalem overnight, according to the Health Ministry. The ministry does not say whether those killed by Israeli fire are fighters or civilians.

The Israeli military confirmed the strike in Nur Shams but did not immediately provide further details. It referred questions about the shooting in Qalandiya to the Israeli police, who did not immediately respond.

The West Bank has seen a surge in violence since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack out of the Gaza Strip ignited the war there.

Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza along with east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three territories for their future state.