I wish Ottoman Empire would return: Lebanon’s Druze leader Walid Jumblatt
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) receives Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt (L) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkiye on December 24, 2024. (AA Photo)
Veteran Lebanese politician Walid Jumblatt expressed support for the legacy of the Ottoman Empire, saying it once united Arabs and Muslims and stood firm on key causes such as Al-Aqsa Mosque.
“I wish the Ottoman Empire would return—it once unified Arabs and Muslims. Even at its weakest, the Ottomans never agreed to sell Al-Aqsa,” he said.
Speaking on the “Hamish Jad” podcast on April 17, Lebanon’s Druze leader Walid Jumblatt addressed the shifting regional dynamics since Oct. 7, tracing them back to the roots of Israeli expansion, particularly after the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Despite representing a minority group in Lebanon, Jumblatt is known as the “kingmaker” in Lebanon for positioning his political group masterfully after Lebanon or Middle East-wide crises.
Walid Jumblatt blasts lack of unity in Arab world
He criticized the decline of Arab national security and warned of the dangers of forced displacement plans targeting Palestinians, stressing the need to support Jordan.
Jumblatt voiced concern over the rise of the far right in the United States and warned that a prolonged American-Israeli war against Iran may be on the horizon.
He also revealed details of a recent meeting with Syria’s new president and warned against ongoing efforts to sever the Druze community from its Arab and Islamic identity. Jumblatt described these moves as part of a broader strategy to divide Syria and Lebanon along sectarian lines.
Walid Jumblatt meets Erdogan after Assad’s fall
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Jumblatt on Dec. 24 at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.
The meeting was held behind closed doors. The Turkish Presidency did not provide details regarding the agenda or outcomes of the meeting.
Jumblatt’s warning to Syria’s Druze community
Jumblatt’s influence is beyond Lebanon’s Druze community. Addressing the Druze population in Syria in March, Jumblatt stated: “Defend your shared historical struggle with Syrian and Arab citizens against occupation, colonialism, and mandates imposed on Golan. Preserve your Islamic heritage, remain cautious of Zionist infiltration, and ensure that none among you become tools for the division of Syria.”
His remarks came amid reports of increasing Israeli outreach to Syrian Druze, a development that has drawn criticism from regional leaders.
