Walid Joumblatt shaking hands with Ahmad al-Sharaa, Sunday in Damascus. (Credit: AFP)
Indeed, for the Druze leader, this visit encompassed two main objectives: A personal one and another concerning the Druze community. The personal aspect was especially significant. From the moment he crossed the Masnaa border into Syrian territory, the memory of his father, Kamal Joumblatt, assassinated by Hafez al-Assad’s regime in December 1977, weighed heavily on his mind. For Joumblatt, it was essential to visit Syria as soon as possible, to finally put this painful chapter behind him — a tragedy that had deeply impacted his life, the lives of many Lebanese, and had served as a pivotal turning point in the political trajectory of both countries.Remarkably, al-Sharaa seemed to understand the emotional gravity of the moment for Joumblatt. He addressed it early in their conversation, stating, “The old regime in Syria killed your father,...
Indeed, for the Druze leader, this visit encompassed two main objectives: A personal one and another concerning the Druze community. The personal aspect was especially significant. From the moment he crossed the Masnaa border into Syrian territory, the memory of his father, Kamal Joumblatt, assassinated by Hafez al-Assad’s regime in December 1977, weighed heavily on his mind. For Joumblatt, it was essential to visit Syria as soon as possible, to finally put this painful chapter behind him — a tragedy that had deeply impacted his life, the lives of many Lebanese, and had served as a pivotal turning point in the political trajectory of both countries.Remarkably, al-Sharaa seemed to understand the emotional gravity of the moment for Joumblatt. He addressed it early in their conversation, stating, “The old regime in Syria killed your...