(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) David Schenker - On May 7, Lebanese Druze leader and member of parliament Walid Jumblatt told reporters in Cairo that Hizballah should disarm. Four days earlier Jumblatt offered his assistance to the Syrian opposition in establishing "a democratic and free Syria." Since the Hariri murder, Jumblatt has emerged as a key leader in the March 14 Movement, the anti-Syrian coalition headed by Hariri's son Saad Hariri, a parliamentarian and leader of the Future Party. Jumblatt is head of the Progressive Socialist Party and leader of the Lebanese Druze community, which comprises roughly 10% of the population and controls 15 of 128 parliamentary seats. But his role in Lebanon today - and his moral authority - far exceeds his Druze constituency.
2006-04-19 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive