Raghida Dergham: Lebanon seems to have been taken hostage. But has it been taken hostage by Israel or Hezbollah?

Walid Jumblatt: Lebanon has been taken hostage by Hezbollah. The kidnapping of the two Israeli soldiers entangled Lebanon in the axis of Hezbollah, Syria and Tehran. By unilaterally declaring war without consulting the Lebanese government, Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah has provoked massive destructive retaliation against Lebanon by Israel. It gave them the pretext. Nasrallah has put the Lebanese state, the only Arab democracy in the region, at risk.
Nasrallah is appealing to the Arab masses. He sees the opportunity of the failure of Western and American policy in the Middle East on Gaza and the Palestinian issue . . . the failure of the “roadmap” and the absence of any credible policy based on land in exchange of peace.
But Lebanon is not Gaza. Lebanon has been liberated from Israel's occupation. All Lebanon wants to do is establish its authority on all its territory. By creating and maintaining its militia, Hezbollah, a state within a state, is infringing on Lebanese sovereignty and blocking the Lebanese army from going to the South.

Dergham: Do you think that Hassan Nasrallah miscalculated and that he did not expect such havoc? Or do you think he factored it in? If so, to what end? What is behind it all?

Jumblatt: I don't know if Damascus or Tehran expected this massive retaliation from Israel. But as far as I can see, here were their calculations: The Iranians are trying to tell the Americans and the U.N. Security Council: “If you want to discuss the nuclear issue, well let us discuss Lebanon. We can declare war on the borders of Lebanon (against) the United States” — which means against Israel.
The Syrian regime is trying to sidetrack the international tribunal on the assassination of (former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik) Hariri. By creating war and chaos in Lebanon, the resolution of this issue could be delayed. If they can sabotage the process of the international tribunal in any way, they will do it. The international tribunal is the only way to punish and deter the Syrian regime.

In short, both the Syrians and the Iranians are fighting the Americans by proxy in Lebanon, benefiting from Hezbollah.

Dergham: What is your view of the proposals for a cease-fire and the establishment of a new robust international force under U.N. auspices?

Jumblatt: Any cease-fire should occur on the terms negotiated with the Lebanese state. The Lebanese army should be deployed to the South and, with the help of this international force, dismantle the Hezbollah militia and incorporate it into the Lebanese army. A buffer zone should be established along the Israeli border.
The international force would also help the Lebanese authority to establish security in the southern part of Lebanon. This means the (present U.N. mission), which now only observes, would have a new mandate.
There is no solution but this solution. We have to enhance Lebanese authority in the South, then all over the country. This will deprive the Israelis of any pretext to attack us because of the missiles of Hezbollah.

Dergham: Do you think the Lebanese army and an international force will be able to dismantle the Hezbollah militias?

Jumblatt: If the militias aren't dismantled and if we don't have this international force, then even if there is a cease-fire, Hezbollah, triggered by the Syrian regime or backed by Iran, can trigger another war at any time under any pretext.

Dergham: What is your greatest worry now?

Jumblatt: That by creating chaos inside Lebanon, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad thinks he can destroy us. It seems he is saying to Lebanon, “You have dared to push us out after the killing of Hariri, so you have got to pay a price.” It reminds me of when Assad told Hariri in their famous meeting in 2004 that “if (French President Jacques) Chirac wants me out, I will destroy Lebanon.” By triggering Hezbollah against Israel, he has Israel doing the job.

Dergham: It seems both Syria and Israel have won the day at the expense of Lebanon, and neither one will be punished?

Jumblatt: I am afraid so, unless the international community agrees to protect the only democracy in the (Arab) Middle East, which is Lebanon, by sending an international force to protect us from two hostile neighbors: the Syrians and the Israelis.

Dergham: What does Lebanon need from the U.S., Europe, Russia and the U.N. now in the broader diplomatic frame?

Jumblatt: The international community should reactivate a sound solution for the Palestinian issue based on land in exchange of peace, the removal of settlements, dismantling the horrible wall in the West Bank. This could give credibility to the whole international community. That will stop radicalism and extremism from sabotaging moderates in the Middle East. It will remove the pretext used by the Iranians and the Syrians.

Dergham: If that doesn't happen?

Jumblatt: If a Palestinian solution is not found, we will be left with totalitarian regimes in Syria and Iran acting at will, doing what they want in the Middle East. Then all moderates regimes will be at risk — the Saudis, the Jordanians, the Egyptians and inside Palestine, President Abu Mazen.