Jumblat Expected to Visit Tripoli after Hariri-Arslan Hasbaya Meeting
Prime Minister Saad Hariri's visit to Hasbaya several days ago has irritated the Progressive Socialist Party, especially that it was made in coordination with Lebanese Democratic Party leader MP Talal Arslan, sources close to PSP chief MP Walid Jumblat have said.
Commenting on Arslan's welcoming of Hariri at Hasbaya's Chehabiyeh Fort and his insistence that Hariri visit the Khalwat al-Bayada Druze prayer-houses, the sources said “someone is deliberately crossing the red lines by infiltrating the Druze community.”
Political sources meanwhile suggested that Jumblat might respond to the move by meeting the invitation to visit Tripoli from his friends ex-PM Najib Miqati and parliamentary candidates Toufic Sultan and Jean Obeid.
Hariri's visit to the South was aimed at rallying supporters to vote for al-Mustaqbal's candidate for Shebaa Imad al-Khatib.
The PSP-Mustaqbal relation was strained recently after Hariri refused to add MP Antoine Saad to his West Bekaa-Rashaya list.
Jumblat has personally criticized Hariri's moves, noting that the premier is aiding Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil's attempt to “besiege” him.
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