Former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Joumblatt, in Clemenceau on May 22, 2026. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L’Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Former Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader Walid Jumblatt warned Monday that Lebanon risks losing the South in the foreseeable future as Israeli attacks and the destruction of homes continue, saying the region would not return to what it was before even if Israeli forces withdraw.
In a program by local broadcaster LBC, Jumblatt said the South was not exclusively Shiite, stressing its diverse social fabric, and questioned why Lebanon should continue to serve as a battleground between Iran and Israel at the expense of the region.
"We cannot remain a battlefield for Iran to confront Israel, while losing what remains of the South," he said, arguing that the head of Hezbollah Naim Qassem "has no right to drag the country into wars that have nothing to do with us once again, and the losses will be enormous."
Jumblatt said the "destruction of homes had already changed the region" and "warned against further sacrifices," questioning the rationale for "dragging Lebanon into conflicts in which it has no direct stake."
He also criticized the Lebanese negotiating delegation, saying it had "miscalculated by assuming that signing the framework agreement would lead to an Israeli withdrawal."
"They thought that signing the tripartite framework agreement would bring about a withdrawal, but that did not happen," he said.
He opposed "imposing preconditions that could pave the way for full normalization with Israel" and said he "did not support repealing the law criminalizing dealings with Israel. Does destruction mean peace? Does settlement-building mean peace?" he asked, questioning whether peace could be achieved with a country that did not want it.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in a phone call, earlier in October, to repeal Lebanon's 1955 Israel Boycott Law, arguing that the statute deters steps toward peace and diplomatic progress. Negotiations between Lebanon and Israel are set to resume in Tampa, Florida, following a nearly three-month suspension, and the Lebanese delegation is demanding an immediate end to the Israeli offensive and the full restoration of Lebanese sovereignty.
However, Israel has counter-asserted that it will maintain its military presence and occupation until Hezbollah is verified to be disarmed and its infrastructure dismantled. While Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy stated the negotiations enjoy full Arab support after meeting with President Joseph Aoun, the framework faces heavy domestic turbulence; Hezbollah and its parliamentary allies, including MP Hassan Fadlallah, strongly oppose the June 2026 agreement, warning that its strict enforcement risks sparking internal civil conflict.
Calls for dialogue
Despite his criticism of the negotiations, Jumblatt called for "national dialogue to prevent further internal divisions amid wider regional tensions."
He said "Lebanon should maintain national unity and address domestic disagreements through dialogue, including with Hezbollah and Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea." He also called for talks with Iran, saying there was no alternative to dialogue.
Jumblatt warned that "neither Iran's regional policies nor those of the United States were serving Lebanon's interests, arguing that Israel was the only party benefiting from the wider confrontation."
He also criticized what he described as attempts to drag Lebanon into wars unrelated to its interests, warning that the consequences would be severe for the country and its population. "Why sacrifice the South and the children of the South, both Shiite and Christian, and push some Druze into Israel's arms?" he asked, according to LBC.
Jumblatt further called for support for the Lebanese Army, condemning campaigns targeting its commander and saying strengthening the institution should begin with improving military personnel's salaries. He also urged the government to establish clear priorities, citing rising living costs and the risk of social unrest, and welcomed Qatari promises of support for the electricity sector.
On Friday, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that Qatar will finance, implement and operate a project in Lebanon’s electricity sector without requiring an upfront investment from the Lebanese Treasury.
Jumblatt concluded by reiterating the need for dialogue across political divides, arguing that "Lebanon could protect itself amid regional power struggles only by addressing its internal disputes."
