Saleh al Aridi (Arabic: صالح العريضي ) (1957 - 10 September 2008) was a Lebanese politician. A leader and one of the founders of the Lebanese Democratic Party, headed by Prince Talal Arslan, his father's, Sheikh Abu Saleh Farhan Aridi, a senior sheikh of the spiritual authority of elders Druze. Saleh Aridi and Emir Talal Arslan are Considered the savers of the Mount Lebanon from a civil war in May 2008. Aridi was killed in a car bomb attack near his house in his village Baissour, located in the Aley District of Mount Lebanon.
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Aridi emphasized close relations with Syria[1] and was a close adviser and right hand for Prince Talal Arslan head of the LDP. He helped bridge differences within the Lebanese Druze community during the 2008 conflict in Lebanon, specially between Emir Talal and Walid Jumblatt also Aridi had been trying to reconcile rival factions within Lebanese parties, Aridi was a key middleman between the two sides and helped mediate an end to the fighting between Hizbullah and Jumblatt's men in the region.
He was assassinated at his house in Baissour, in an attack that also injured six others on 10 September 2008.[2] It was a historical stand for his father, Sheikh Abu Saleh Farhan Aridi, who said at the moment of the crime: "If our opponent came to us at this moment and said that he killed Saleh, I will forgive him and will not accept anyone to touch or harm him." A huge funeral was held for Aridi on September 12 2008 and was attended by all different and opponent Lebanese parties, and the Lebanese President Michel Suleiman named Aridi "The Martyr of National Unity." The martyr was buried on the same day in the village's cemetery.[3]
The Syrian foreign ministry said: "Syria firmly denounces the criminal and terrorist act which claimed the life of Saleh Aridi. Syria is convinced that such crimes that target security and stability in Lebanon will not achieve their objectives."[4]
The United States State Department spokesman Sean McCormack also condemned the car bombing assassination. He added: "The United States is deeply concerned about the latest violence in Lebanon. Our support for the Lebanese government and its democratic institutions is unwavering. "This support is a reflection of our unshakable commitment to the Lebanese people and their hope for democratic change and economic prosperity."[5]
The European Union presidency "very strongly condemns the attack which cost the life of Mr. Saleh Aridi, and stressed their readiness to provide assistance until the perpetrators of terrorist acts to justice, and advised the parties concerned to continue the process that started the Doha agreement to end the persistent political crisis in Lebanon", said a statement, issued by the foreign ministry of France, which held the EU's rotating presidency.[1]