Joumblatt and Hezbollah advisor meet in Beirut, signaling possible political rapprochement

BEIRUT — Progressive Socialist Party head Walid Joumblatt met on Thursday in his Beirut residence with Hussein Khalil, the political advisor of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, signaling a possible rapprochement between the two parties.

Here’s what we know:

    • Speaking with reporters gathered outside his house in Beirut’s Clemenceau neighborhood following the meeting, Joumblatt said that the issues on which he still differs with Hezbollah “have been put aside,” without giving any further details. He added that he and Khalil had discussed economic issues and that the meeting “is an opportunity and the dialogue could continue in order to reach a minimum agreement on issues that interest the population.”

    • Khalil described the meeting, which also included Hezbollah coordination committee head Wafic Safa, as “frank,” adding that other meetings are planned “in the coming days.” Khalil said “there was a common desire to meet, in light of the social, economic and financial circumstances in Lebanon. We reviewed many internal issues, including political, financial and social deadlines.”

    • “Political differences should not affect cordial relations,” Khalil also said, adding that despite the differences in political opinions between Hezbollah and PSP, the two parties can still have “discussions about strategic issues.”

    • According to L’Orient-Le Jour political columnist Mounir Rabih, Joumblatt seems to be anticipating geopolitical changes in reaching out to Hezbollah, and had recently been making repeated calls for such a move.