Joumblatt: Israeli attacks to be expected 'everywhere'

Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Joumblatt said on Wednesday, after a meeting with Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh, that Israeli attacks should be expected "everywhere," in the current context marked by violent clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, which have left more than 2,300 dead in one year, including more than 1,300 since the end of September, in several regions of Lebanon.

"We expect Israeli attacks everywhere, and I don't think there are any safe places in Beirut or in any part of Beirut," he said, according to several media reports.

Joumblatt also said that a dialogue for a cease-fire with Israel would be acceptable if it were done "on the basis of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701" and by integrating the aspect of the "deployment of the Lebanese army in south Lebanon."

Commenting on the expected Paris conference on Lebanon on Oct. 24, Joumblatt said he hoped that "the main countries, in particular France, would help the Lebanese army to carry out the task entrusted to it, and in a reinforced manner."

This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.