Jumblatt links Blom bank explosion to Hezbollah, warns of a wave of bombings

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jumblatt 100Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt   suggested that there is a link between the explosion  that rocked central  Beirut last night that targeted  the headquarters of  Blom Bank,  one to the largest  Lebanese banks  and a growing row between Hezbollah and the central bank governor over the implementation of U.S. financial sanctions against the party.

“The objective of the bombing in Beirut is to deal a blow to the economy and the banking system and I had called for a calm dialogue about the U.S. sanctions,” Jumblatt told An Nahar newspaper shortly after the explosion.

“Some parties do not want dialogue over the issue of the U.S. sanctions and we most preserve the baking sector and its coherence,” he stressed.

In another interview he  told LBCI television that “we might be facing a wave of bombings,” urging an end to verbal attacks against Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and “a roadmap between Hezbollah  and the banks.”

A general view of the damaged headquarters building of Blom Bank where a bomb exploded, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, June 12, 2016. A powerful bomb exploded in Beirut on Sunday, destroying several cars and severely damaging one of Lebanon's biggest banks, but causing no casualties, officials said. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
A general view of the damaged headquarters building of Blom Bank where a bomb exploded, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, June 12, 2016. A powerful bomb exploded in Beirut on Sunday, destroying several cars and severely damaging one of Lebanon’s biggest banks, but causing no casualties, officials said. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

And in  another interview with    al-Jadeed TV, Jumblatt warned that “Israel is the party that benefits the most from the destruction of the Lebanese economy.”

“What’s important is to cease the uncalculated statements about the issue of sanctions,” he said.

The evening blast resulted in the wounding of two people and caused extensive damage to BLOM Bank’s glass facade and cars parked in the area.

Earlier in the day Jumblatt  urged in a tweet  “smart approach” regarding the implementation of the anti-Hizbullah sanctions.

“If I had to voice an opinion as an observer, seeing as I’m not an expert in the banking and financial issues, I would stress the need for ending the public exchange of tirades in newspaper and in the media and for halting the verbal attacks against the central bank governor,” Jumblat tweeted.

“Because the confrontation today is targeted against Hezbollah, its supporters and Lebanon – entire Lebanon,” he added.

 The issue today is about how to alleviate the impact of the sanctions as much as possible and how to deal with the issue smartly in order to protect the banking sector,” Jumblatt went on to say.

He also warned that “any mistake would be intolerable in this regard, seeing as we are likely to face further economic adversity.”

Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc attacked  Salameh on Thursday, noting that his remarks about the suspension of 100 Hezbollah-linked bank accounts reflect an inclination to renounce “national sovereignty.”

In an interview with CNBC on Wednesday, Salameh had announced that one hundred bank accounts related to Hezbollah had been frozen in accordance with a U.S. law that threatens to sanction anyone who finances the group.

“The central bank is determined to maintain the country’s financial stability, and make sure that the U.S. law is implemented,” he said.

U.S. President Barack Obama signed the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act on December 18.

Despite Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah’s assurances in December that his party had nothing to fear from the new American sanctions targeting the organization because it had “no money in Lebanese banks,” the implementation of the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 has conspicuously roused the party’s ire since it came into effect on May 3.

Lebanon has witnessed a rare standoff between Hezbollah and Central Bank  chief whose longstanding ability to juggle safeguarding Lebanon’s international economic legitimacy with maintaining a working relationship with a US-designated “Foreign Terrorist Organization” has been put to the test.

Many in Lebanon are extremely  that the U.S. legislation will have negative effects on the Lebanese banking sector, which is one of the most active industries in the country.

“Our priority is to keep Lebanon on the international financial map,” said Salameh.

Geagea warns
Geagea_LebanonLebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea warned Monday in a tweet :”Banking sector in Lebanon is the cornerstone of the Lebanese economy and it is unacceptable to expose it to any dangers for anybody’s sake, ” National News Agency ( NNA) reported

Geagea, who was referring to the explosion that rocked central Beirut last night that targeted the headquarters of Blom Bank , added: “We are still waiting for the security apparatuses preliminary investigations due to the delicacy and fragility of this issue.”

Geagea urged Lebanon Central Bank, the Banks’ Association and the banks to take all the needed measures to keep the banking sector in Lebanon acceptable and within the international banking group.

Geagea concluded “Today, we all support the banking sector against the various challenges which it is confronting.”

In a related development BLOM bank said in a statement: “Our bank represents all the components of the Lebanese society. We will continue to offer our services to our customers.”

The Association of Bank in Lebanon met earlier today and issued a statement at the end of the meeting warning : “The blast aims to destabilize the economic sector.”

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31 responses to “Jumblatt links Blom bank explosion to Hezbollah, warns of a wave of bombings”

  1. “Jumblatt links Blom bank explosion to Hezbollah”
    The perennial weathervane is spinning furiously.

    1. Golyat Avatar

      And you parrot think you are able to have some common sense regarding what happening in Lebanon???

      1. You don’t seem to have any sense, common or not, about anything happening anywhere, my friend. So I’m already in a position of advantage.

        1. Golyat Avatar

          LOL how come? You are not Lebanese!

          1. And you are a moron. Which one is worse? Quite the conundrum. 🙂

          2. Golyat Avatar

            When you are not a Lebanese, you cannot interfere with Lebanese affairs!

          3. Yawn. Try and stop me from “interfering”, Assadite moron.

        2. Christina Metron Avatar
          Christina Metron

          encest is rampant amogst your people, verbal diarrhea is a common result of insest amogst you and your ilk.

  2. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    “stress the need for ending the public exchange of tirades in newspaper and in the media and for halting the verbal attacks against the central bank governor,” ….. Way to go, Jumby.
    A Reasonable suggestion, considering those things look like this Blog sometimes …
    Of course, the fact he mentioned Israel will have people ranting … (see below)

    1. Hind Abyad Avatar
      Hind Abyad

      Hind Abyad 5thDrawer • a day ago

      Yesterday, the Canadian embassy in Lebanon strongly advised its staff to avoid visiting Hamra area of Beirut and restaurants this weekend.

      What intelligence did they have or were given, seeing as an explosion took place in the Hamra Verdun neighbourhood this evening.

      Some reports say the Lebanese authorities shared intelligence with western embassies about possible attacks over the weekend.

      The warning also mentioned downtown Beirut and the many restaurants there but was apparently particular about Hamra.

      The same message warning was also circulated to UN members in Lebanon. So all western embassies, UN etc shared same intelligence warnings.

  3. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Good thing it’s summer … will take a while to replace windows …

    1. Hind Abyad Avatar
      Hind Abyad

      “we most preserve the baking sector and its coherence”

  4. Hind Abyad Avatar
    Hind Abyad

    While YaLibnan bans Lebanese, Israeli trolls are having a ball

    1. Thank goodness you are not Lebanese, so no worries…:-).

      1. Christina Metron Avatar
        Christina Metron

        but you’re an Israeli Zionist Hasbara troll. Oh I forgot brainless.

        1. And, he’s “Rick D” on TDS.

      2. Hind Abyad Avatar
        Hind Abyad

        Thank goodness you live in your virtual WWW fantasies.YAKhara

        1. Glad to see your attractive mug on your avatar again, by the way :-).

          1. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            A mug on my avatar? Sorry i met a 3 years ago friends of a YaLibnan poster and this is me. Carry on YaKo

    2. From Wikipedia: Ya Libnan (Arabic: يا لبنان‎‎) Oh Lebanon, is a Lebanese media outlet that delivers English-language news from Beirut to an international audience. Ya Libnan was founded by volunteers in Lebanon immediately after the assassination of Rafik Hariri on 14 February 2005.

      Enough said.

      1. Hind Abyad Avatar
        Hind Abyad

        In 2012-13 when i came here they were still interacting with us posters..

        1. I see.

          I don’t know why they let the filthy zionist hasbara trolls/spammer fool around.

          1. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            It was sold.. ask 5th he was here since inspection 🙂

          2. I didn’t know and it makes sense.

          3. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            Do you disinfect your device after we Hasbro trolls comment here?

          4. The worst part is that you openly admitted/admit, several times, to be troll and to troll.

          5. Rudy1947 Avatar
            Rudy1947

            I guess your not into questions.

          6. If your question was an actual question …

  5. Christina Metron Avatar
    Christina Metron

    I guess Israel has it’s people in Lebanon repeat what’s best for the Israeli interest. sellouts like Scumblat and GAGA. do Israel’s bidding for them.

    1. Rudy1947 Avatar
      Rudy1947

      A few days ago Lebanon was selling out to the Saudis. Make up your mind.

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