Tension prevailed lately over relations between Hezbollah and leader of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) Walid Jumblatt, mainly over criticisms launched by the Druze leader against the Syrian regime and over his policy towards the file of Syrian refugees.
A war of words currently rules the Hezbollah-Jumblatt relationship: media outlets linked to the Shiite Party launched campaigns against Jumblatt, who then indirectly lashed out at the party’s weapons, saying that the Lebanese Army should solely confront Lebanon’s enemies.
Such tension influenced Saturday the visit of Health Minister Jamil Jabak to Rashaya.
Jabak is affiliated with Hezbollah, but he asserts that his ministry is a “Lebanese Health Ministry and not a Hezbollah Health Ministry.”
On Saturday, the PSP had decided to boycott Jabak’s visit, but, a source close to Jumblatt told Asharq Al-Awsat that the party later decided not to “abandon the scene” to Hezbollah.
“The PSP cancelled a ceremony to launch an institute for cardiac catheterization, which Jabak was supposed to inaugurate during his Saturday’s visit,” the source said.
According to the sources, Hezbollah members were deployed near areas where Jabak held the meeting in Rashaya, while the PSP spread its supporters in the Druze area.
On Saturday, the Health Minister was welcomed in Rashaya by Industry Minister Wael Bu Faour, who is a member of the PSP.
In the presence of Jabak, Bu Faour delivered a statement in which he praised Jumblatt for his aid and efforts to develop and boost the health sector in the Druze area.
For his part, Jabak called on the executive and legislative authorities to work together for “supporting the hospital sector in Lebanon.”
It was surprising that during his visit to Rashaya on Saturday, Jabak visited Hezbollah’s allies, including some political figures that have differences with the PSP.
The Health Minister met with former MP Faisal Daoud and MP Talal Arslan.
