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Former Envoys Urge Joint French, UK Action on Palestinian Territories
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Conflict & Security

Former Envoys Urge Joint French, UK Action on Palestinian Territories

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam reveals details in his memoirs about a meeting with Lebanese PM Rafik al-Hariri six days before his assassination in February 2005.
  • Khaddam urged Hariri to leave Lebanon immediately due to growing dangers, but Hariri refused, citing upcoming elections.
  • Hariri was killed in a bombing on February 14, 2005, with Khaddam recalling warnings from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad about a conspiracy involving Hariri.

In his forthcoming memoirs, former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam offers a chilling account of his final meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, just six days before Hariri's assassination in February 2005. Khaddam reveals that during a lunch meeting on February 8th at Hariri's Beirut residence, he implored the Lebanese leader to leave the country immediately, sensing grave danger. However, Hariri, preoccupied with upcoming elections, resisted the urgent plea.

There is an American-French conspiracy against Syria, and Rafik al-Hariri is involved in it.

— Bashar al-AssadAllegedly stated during a Baath party meeting in January 2005, as recalled in Khaddam's memoirs.

The memoirs, set to be published in early September, detail Khaddam's growing concerns, which stemmed partly from a January 2005 meeting where Syrian President Bashar al-Assad allegedly spoke of an "American-French conspiracy against Syria" and implicated Hariri. Khaddam conveyed his warnings to Hariri through former Lebanese Defense Minister Mohsen Dalloul, urging him to depart Lebanon swiftly.

During their February 8th lunch, Hariri expressed anxiety and inquired about the message from Dalloul. Khaddam reiterated the urgency, stating, "Your life is more important than the people, and your family is more important than the elections." Hariri's response, "I have elections... how can I leave the people?" underscored his commitment to his political campaign over personal safety.

Your life is more important than the people, and your family is more important than the elections.

— Abdul Halim KhaddamKhaddam's plea to Rafik al-Hariri during their final meeting before the assassination.

Khaddam's memoirs also highlight two striking details from the lunch: Hariri's inquiry about Bashar al-Assad's brother, Maher, and Hariri's revelation about his diminished security detail. Hariri mentioned that his usual 50 security personnel had been reduced to only six. Six days later, on February 14th, a massive explosion in Beirut targeted Hariri's convoy, killing him and several others. Khaddam learned of the attack via a breaking news report while attending a Baath meeting in Damascus.

I have elections... how can I leave the people?

— Rafik al-HaririHariri's response to Khaddam's urgent advice to leave Lebanon.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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