Jumblatt calls for unity among Druze, embrace Arab identity

Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt issued a strong warning to Druze communities in Syria, urging them to remain vigilant against foreign interference and to resist attempts to divide the country.

Speaking at a ceremony in Moukhtara to commemorate the 48th anniversary of his father, Kamal Jumblatt's assassination, he emphasized the importance of upholding their historical resistance while protecting their Arab and Islamic identity.

In his address to the Druze population in Syria, Jumblatt called for solidarity in the face of "occupation, colonialism, and mandates imposed on the Golan." He urged them to safeguard their Islamic heritage and to be wary of "Zionist infiltration," emphasizing that no member of their community should become a tool for dividing Syria.

Jumblatt's remarks come amid rising concerns regarding increased "Israeli" outreach to Syrian Druze, which has drawn criticism from regional leaders. Additionally, he announced the discontinuation of the annual commemoration of his father's assassination, stating that "justice has finally been served, even if it took a long time." This statement referenced the recent arrest of Ibrahim Huwayja, the former Syrian Air Force Intelligence Chief, whom Jumblatt holds responsible for his father's killing.

During his speech, Jumblatt reaffirmed the Progressive Socialist Party's (PSP) commitment to Lebanon's unity and Arab identity. He stressed the necessity of complete "Israeli" withdrawal from southern Lebanon, called for the demarcation of Lebanon-Syria maritime and land borders, and advocated for rebuilding relations between the two countries on new foundations.

Jumblatt also criticized a recent visit by a delegation of about 100 Syrian Druze leaders to "Israel"—the first in 52 years—calling it symbolic. He remarked, "A visit, religious or otherwise, will not change the fact of occupation in Palestine and the Golan Heights."