Jumblat Reveals New Proposal on Hostages despite Salam's Frustration

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stressed on Monday that Ahmed Fleiti, the deputy municipal chief of the border town of Arsal, had a serious proposal to resolve the hostage crisis despite reservations expressed by Prime Minister Tammam Salam over his role.

Jumblat told local dailies that Health Minister Wael Abou Faour had informed him that Fleiti has a “serious offer that would pave way for a solution to the cause of the captives after he visited the hostage-takers.”

Abou Faour will brief Salam about it, the PSP chief, who is a centrist, said.

“I hope we would achieve a positive and united stance on this crisis,” Jumblat told the newspapers about the members of the cabinet.

Fleiti announced on Sunday that Abou Faour had tasked him with mediating in the case of the servicemen who were taken hostage by jihadist groups from Arsal in August.

He told al-Liwaa daily in remarks published on Monday that he has no ties with the militants nor he is a party member.

Islamic State fighters reacted positively to my visit to them, he said.

Fleiti denied however that the militants made any demands and said he had no initiative.

But Fleiti's involvement in the negotiations aimed at releasing the hostages frustrated Salam, An Nahar newspaper said.

Salam has insisted that General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim is the only person tasked by the Lebanese state to negotiate the release of the captives.