Taymour Jumblatt calls for dialogue, moderation and state control over arms
Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader and Democratic Gathering bloc head MP Taymour Jumblatt stressed that dialogue in Lebanon was not a sign of weakness, but a national necessity, calling for moderation in the face of extremism and division and rejecting any attempt to drag Lebanon into another war.
Speaking at the opening of a conference titled State-Building and Strengthening Democracy: A Trans-Mediterranean Socialist Youth Vision from Lebanon, organized by the Progressive Youth Organization, Jumblatt warned that Lebanon was passing through an exceptionally difficult period marked by widening divisions and growing fear and hatred at the expense of dialogue and understanding.
He said his party supported negotiations with Israel but insisted that they must produce tangible results, including an end to hostilities, Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory and respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Jumblatt rejected attempts to draw Lebanon into a new war, whether by Iran or any domestic party, emphasizing that opposition to war was not directed against any particular community but reflected a sense of national responsibility.
He reaffirmed that decisions concerning war and peace must rest exclusively with the Lebanese state, which should also exercise sole authority over weapons.
Jumblatt stressed that lasting stability required justice and the restoration of trust between citizens and state institutions.
He also called for protecting depositors’ rights, reforming the banking sector and safeguarding judicial independence, describing these measures as essential to rebuilding confidence and securing a future for young Lebanese in their homeland.
Concluding his remarks, Jumblatt emphasized the responsibility to build states capable of protecting their people and ensuring a future founded on stability, peace, dignity and justice.
He urged Lebanese citizens not to allow differences to turn into hatred or political disagreements to undermine their shared humanity, reiterating the importance of dialogue and moderation in confronting extremism and division.
