‼️Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, in an interview with Hadley Gamble: • “The Americans are withdrawing from the region, and the Israelis are filling the vacuum.” • “We made a mistake by choosing Marco Rubio’s track instead of the Islamabad track. Rubio’s approach will lead us nowhere.” • “I do not believe Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, in their current format, will produce results as long as Israel continues to occupy southern Lebanon.” • “The government tried, but believing that the Americans can pressure Israel to withdraw is a complete illusion.” • “Israel is seeking to erase the memories of southern Lebanon, as though preparing to establish settlements in parts of it.” • Calls for internal dialogue based on the principle that only the Lebanese state has the right to possess weapons. • Says the only way to disarm Hezbollah is through dialogue and possibly a compromise, with the support of Iran and Israel. • Suggests that the British-Irish experience could serve as a model for Hezbollah’s disarmament, noting that even Margaret Thatcher accepted a compromise with the IRA. • “I cannot accept a hardline approach toward Hezbollah if it leads to civil war.” • “We cannot eliminate the Shia community or tell them to leave. They are part of Lebanon.” • Rejects the establishment of cantons, stressing that Christians and Muslims must continue living together. • Says Israel’s policy is aimed at erasing Palestinian national identity, from Gaza to the West Bank, while pursuing territorial expansion in Syria and Lebanon. • “Regardless of who wins the Israeli elections, nothing will change.” • Says Israeli policy is rooted in the Old Testament and biblical narratives. • Calls on the United States to send better diplomats and adopt better policies toward the region. • “Syria’s Druze are taking the wrong path by choosing to become a tool in Israel’s hands.” • “If we, as Druze, do not embrace broader movements of national solidarity and Arab nationalism, we are heading toward collective suicide.” • Says the Druze in Israel do not determine their own fate, arguing that the Israeli government makes decisions affecting Druze communities in both Israel and Syria. • Calls for engagement with Iran, arguing that Hezbollah’s actual policies have been determined in Tehran since Nasrallah’s assassination and that dialogue could help reduce escalation. • “The region’s crises will not end as long as Netanyahu, the Israeli government, or Israeli society believe they can do whatever they want through force.”