Lebanon: Jumblatt, Nasrallah’s Aide Stress Need to Put Aside Differences

A file picture shows Lebanon’s Druze leader Walid Jumblatt addressing supporters at the House of the Druze Community in Beirut. (Reuters)
A file picture shows Lebanon’s Druze leader Walid Jumblatt addressing supporters at the House of the Druze Community in Beirut. (Reuters)
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Lebanon: Jumblatt, Nasrallah’s Aide Stress Need to Put Aside Differences

A file picture shows Lebanon’s Druze leader Walid Jumblatt addressing supporters at the House of the Druze Community in Beirut. (Reuters)
A file picture shows Lebanon’s Druze leader Walid Jumblatt addressing supporters at the House of the Druze Community in Beirut. (Reuters)

Following a long period of political rift between the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) and Hezbollah, a meeting on Thursday brought together the PSP head, Walid Jumblatt, and the political assistant to Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Hajj Hussein Al-Khalil.

The two sides emphasized the need to put aside differences and to maintain dialogue in the next stage.

In comments following the meeting, which was held at Jumblatt’s residence in Beirut, the head of the PSP underlined the need for dialogue “to reach the minimum level of consensus on matters that serve the interests of the Lebanese people.

“There are points of contention between us that we have put aside,” he said.

For his part, Khalil described the meeting as “friendly and frank,” saying: “There was a common will to meet, based on the financial, economic and living conditions. We reviewed many internal matters of political, financial and social benefits.”

He added: “Perhaps there are major political headlines that we disagree about, but this does not mean that the Lebanese do not discuss major strategic points...”

The meeting, which brought together two archenemies in politics, comes a few weeks before the presidential elections and follows striking positions expressed by Jumblatt, who stated that a dialogue with Hezbollah and other components was necessary to build a strong state.

“I asked to meet with representatives of Hezbollah, in order to discuss some issues that have nothing to do with the presidency, for the sake of electricity, and for the establishment of a sovereign oil company…” he had said in earlier remarks.



Islamic Consensus in Istanbul on Need for Solidarity Against Israeli Escalation

A commemorative photo of the ministers and officials participating in the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council in Istanbul (AFP)
A commemorative photo of the ministers and officials participating in the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council in Istanbul (AFP)
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Islamic Consensus in Istanbul on Need for Solidarity Against Israeli Escalation

A commemorative photo of the ministers and officials participating in the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council in Istanbul (AFP)
A commemorative photo of the ministers and officials participating in the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council in Istanbul (AFP)

The 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Istanbul, witnessed a clear consensus among member states on the need for unity and solidarity in the face of Israel’s ongoing escalation. This comes amid continued international silence on the violations committed in Gaza and Israel’s expanding attacks into Lebanon, Syria, and Iran.
 
In his opening speech, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stated that the world’s silence on Israel’s aggressive policies in Palestine has only encouraged its regional expansion. He asserted that the coming period will see a “much greater role for the Islamic world, which must become an independent global power.”
 
Erdogan urged Islamic nations to overcome internal disputes and unite in defending their common causes. He warned that Netanyahu’s “Zionist ambitions” could push the world into catastrophe, likening the threat to that of Adolf Hitler, whose ambitions ignited World War II.
 
Regarding Iran, Erdogan stressed that defending oneself against Israeli attacks is a legitimate right, stating: “There is no difference between an attack on Tehran, Istanbul, Makkah, or Madinah - they share the same fate.”

He also warned against attempts to impose a “new Sykes-Picot” agreement on the region. He added that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is worse than Nazi concentration camps, with over two million Palestinians struggling to survive under siege for nearly two years.
 
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who assumed the presidency of the session, warned that Israel is dragging the region to the brink of total catastrophe.
He stressed that the core issue is not about Palestine, Iran, Lebanon, or others. It is “an Israeli problem,” he said. He further called for a firm stance against the aggression and praised Egypt and Qatar for their ongoing efforts to mediate a ceasefire.
 
Fidan criticized the failure of international mechanisms, particularly the UN Security Council, in addressing the ongoing atrocities in Gaza.
 
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit also condemned any targeting of nuclear facilities in Iran, warning of severe humanitarian and environmental consequences. He said that expanding the war will not bring peace and stressed the necessity of returning to diplomacy, referencing past successful negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.
 
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi condemned Israel’s violations of international law and sovereignty in its attacks on Iran. He called for restraint, a return to diplomacy, and praised Oman’s mediation between the US and Iran.
 
Closed sessions were held in Istanbul to discuss developments in Gaza and Iran’s nuclear negotiations. A special Arab ministerial meeting also took place, denouncing the Israeli aggression against Iran and calling for urgent efforts to de-escalate.