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Following are excerpts from an interview with Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, which aired on Al-Jazeera TV on January 31, 2007.
Walid Jumblatt: Hassan Nasrallah gets his funding and weapons from Iran, through the Syrian regime. Khamenei serves as his source of authority. His friend, who has the same status, Abd Al-Aziz Al-Hakim, also gets his money and weapons from Iran, and Khamenei serves as his source of authority as well. Over here [in Lebanon], they are hostile to America, while over there [in Iraq], they are America's friends, and are received by George Bush. How come? I'm not accusing Abd Al-Aziz Al-Hakim of treason, but this double standard has been exposed and is unacceptable. What do you want me to say? That the Emir of Qatar, who met with Shimon Peres yesterday, is a traitor? No, the Emir of Qatar is free to meet whoever he wants. When the Emir of Qatar came to Lebanon [after the war], and contributed to the rebuilding of the country, he was received like a hero in the Shiite suburb of Beirut. We would like to know how Hizbullah views the Emir of Qatar. Enough with the lessons in patriotism.
[...]
When the Syrian regime assassinated Kamal Jumblatt, on March 16, 1977... Forty days later, I decided to go to Syria in person, and I met Hafez Al-Assad. I knew that he knew, and he knew that I knew. Nevertheless, I told him that we must bury the hatchet - not to forgive, but to bury the hatchet - because of the explosive situation in Lebanon. But the situation today is not the same as [back then]. There was Sa'd Al-Hariri... I mean Rafiq Al-Hariri... We also had Pierre Jumail, Samir Qasir, George Hawi, Jubran Tweini, May Chidiac...
Interviewer: Do you blame Syria for all these cases?
Walid Jumblatt: I do not blame Syria.
Interviewer: There is no proof.
Walid Jumblatt: Let the international tribunal do its job.
[...]
Interviewer: Is this also part of an attempt to avenge the blood of your father?
Walid Jumblatt: Like I said at the Jesuit University, I have forgiven, but I will never forget.
[...]
Whoever assassinated Rafiq Al-Hariri is not interested in stability and prosperity. Some people in Damascus are stupid and full of hatred, if I may say so. They could have benefited from the Lebanese prosperity, just like Communist China did with Hong Kong. Both they and we could have benefited. We could have had normal relations. But some people, with their hatred and petty considerations, will destroy both us and Syria.
Interviewer: With whom does the problem of Lebanon lie?
Walid Jumblatt: Lebanon's basic problem used to be with Israel. We embraced the resistance in 200, and liberated South Lebanon. But we did not need the South to be liberated once again in 2006, let alone at such a heavy cost. Let's assume [the Shab'a Farms] are "liberated" - are we capable of stopping there, or will we move on from Lebanon to the liberation of Jerusalem? I do not support the theory of eradicating the state of Israel. I'm one of those who believe there should be two states – a viable Palestinian state, side by side with the state of Israel, with the Right of Return and Jerusalem as the capital.
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