Jumblatt says Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif 'does not represent us' Druze
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The former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party in Lebanon warns that schemes in Syria aim to drag "some weak-willed individuals" into a civil war with unpredictable consequences.
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Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt speaks to the media after a meeting with France's President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017 (AP)
Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in the occupied Palestinian territories, "does not represent us (the Druze)," said the former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party in Lebanon, Walid Jumblatt, pointing out that Tarif is "backed by Zionist forces."
In remarks he made on Monday, Jumblatt warned that "Zionism is using the Druze as soldiers and officers to suppress the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank," noting that the current Israeli plan is to "seize control of Jabal al-Arab."
The Lebanese leader further announced that he will visit Damascus to reaffirm the legitimacy of the current leadership, cautioning that some schemes in Syria aim to drag "some weak-willed individuals" into a civil war with unpredictable consequences.
He also warned that the current phase is far more dangerous than previous ones.
Jumblatt warns against Israeli sabotage scheme in Syria
On Sunday, Jumblatt stressed that "Israel" seeks to exploit sectarian divisions for its own interests and to fragment the region.
He emphasized that the Israeli occupation entity is pursuing a sabotage project in Syria that threatens Arab national security, stressing that "Israel’s" biblical expansionist project has no borders and aims to extend its influence across the entire region.
He urged "the free people of Jabal al-Arab to be wary of Israeli schemes in Syria," highlighting the role of key Syrian Arab figures in confronting "Israel’s" plans for southern Syria.
The former Progressive Socialist Party leader stressed that Arab nations would not be spared from destruction and fragmentation, calling on the Cairo summit to take heed of these threats.
His statements came a day after the town of Jaramana in the Damascus countryside witnessed security tensions, as clashes erupted between General Security forces and local gunmen from the minority Druze community.
Since Islamist-led factions led by the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group overthrew President Bashar al-Assad in December, clashes and shootings have erupted in multiple areas, with security officials attributing the violence to armed supporters of the former government.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that "one person was killed and nine others from Jaramana were injured during clashes between security forces affiliated with the new authority and local gunmen tasked with protecting the area."
According to the observatory, tensions escalated on Friday when a dispute led to the killing of a security forces member and the injury of another in a shooting at a checkpoint in Jaramana.
Syria’s official news agency, SANA, cited Colonel Hossam al-Tahhan, the local head of security, who claimed that the checkpoint had stopped Ministry of Defense personnel entering the area to visit their relatives.
After surrendering their weapons, they were assaulted, and "their vehicle was directly targeted by gunfire," resulting in casualties, al-Tahhan said, cautioning that such incidents could have serious implications for "Syria's security, stability, and unity."
On Saturday, Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz warned Syria’s new rulers not to "harm the Druze," stating that the military had been ordered "to prepare and to send a firm and clear warning: if the regime harms the Druze, it will suffer the consequences."
His remarks followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s demand last Sunday for the "complete demilitarisation of southern Syria," including Sweida province, home to a significant Druze Arab population.
It is noteworthy that the same day al-Assad was ousted, "Israel" announced that its troops were entering a UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Syrian Golan Heights.
Read more: Syrian forces begin deploying in Jaramana after deadly clashes
