Jumblatt Recounts Encounters with Gaddafi, Details Support for Lebanese National Movement

During an appearance on the "Witness to the Age" program, Walid Jumblatt, the former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, shared recollections of pivotal moments in Lebanon's history, touching on his interactions with late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Syria's regional influence, and the emergence of Hezbollah.

According to Jumblatt's account, the Lebanese National Movement initially drew financial resources from the late Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. This arrangement shifted in 1978 when Syria made a decision to halt Iraqi funding, prompting the movement to seek support elsewhere. The organization subsequently turned to Libya as an alternative source of backing.

Jumblatt recounted multiple meetings with Gaddafi over the years. He disclosed that following the civil war, his forces were requested to deploy to Chad to assist Gaddafi against Hissene Habré, but he noted that the militia under his command did not participate in the conflict. His relationship with the Libyan leader continued through the period when General Michel Aoun launched his "war of liberation" in 1989 and persisted even during a subsequent private visit. However, Jumblatt emphasized that this support ended after the Taif Agreement, which resulted in the disbanding of Lebanese militias.

Gaddafi's patronage extended to various leftist organizations, including socialist and communist parties as well as labor groups, Jumblatt explained. He noted that Gaddafi's representative, Abdel Salam Jalloud, regularly traveled to Damascus, where meetings with Lebanese figures took place.

When discussing the disappearance of Imam Musa al-Sadr, Jumblatt recalled presenting a potential resolution to Gaddafi, an exchange that left him visibly disturbed and fearful. Jumblatt suggested that Gaddafi was aware that his public narrative regarding al-Sadr's travel to Italy was fabricated.

Jumblatt reflected on the transformations in regional politics following Iran's 1979 revolution, asserting that its success strengthened Hafez al-Assad's position significantly. During this period, Jumblatt noted that Hezbollah began establishing its presence in Baalbek before expanding into southern Lebanon.

Regarding Imam Musa al-Sadr's earlier influence, Jumblatt acknowledged that the cleric's leadership of the Shiite deprived movement provided substantial political momentum, effectively balancing other political forces active in the south.

Discussing the Lebanese civil war, Jumblatt identified the truck bombing at the Iraqi embassy as the first major bombing incident in Beirut, an attack that also resulted in the death of Nizar Qabbani's wife.

Jumblatt also characterized his relationship with the Assad regime as an alliance spanning 29 years. He stated his opposition to Syria's approach toward Palestinian factions and his refusal to participate in the "war of the camps." He emphasized that he was not persuaded to engage in combat against Palestinians, who had stood with him and the Druze community during periods of isolation—a stance that reportedly created friction with the Syrian leadership.

On the Camp David Accords, Jumblatt stated that his political circles condemned Egyptian President Anwar Sadat following the agreement. He characterized Bashir Gemayel as a formidable Christian leader who consolidated Christian military power through both consensus and coercive means.