UNSCO DE SOTO URGING ISRAELIS TO TURN OVER

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 006606

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2015
TAGS: PREL PINR MARR PTER PBTS MOPS PINS KPKO LE COUNTERTERRORISM GOI EXTERNAL
SUBJECT: UNSCO DE SOTO URGING ISRAELIS TO TURN OVER
HIZBALLAH DEAD IN EXCHANGE FOR CALM


Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones. Reasons: 1.4 (b, d).


1. (C) In a discussion about recent Hizballah-IDF clashes
along the Israel-Lebanon border, UN Special Coordinator
(UNSCO) Alvara de Soto told the Ambassador at mid-day
November 22 that:

-- he has helped to broker a "fragile cease-fire" that has
led to a momentary calm along the Israel-Lebanon border;

-- he told his GOI and IDF contacts last night that Hizballah
attaches a high priority to recovering the bodies of four
Hizballah fighters killed in clashes with the IDF the night
of November 21;

-- if a turnover of the bodies could be arranged, there is a
"chance for continued calm";

-- UNIFIL commander MGEN Alain Pellegrini called de Soto the
morning of November 22 from Camp Naqoura in Lebanon and said
a meeting on the turnover of bodies has been scheduled for
1730 local time;

-- De Soto then called his IDF contacts and urged them to
meet earlier , if possible, so that a turnover could take
place in daylight;

-- De Soto would be grateful if the Ambassador would ask his
GOI and IDF contacts to push up the turnover. He will ask
the same of resident French Ambassador Araud later on the
22nd.


2. (C) Ambassador Jones responded that he would ask his IDF
contacts in a meeting later on the 22nd what the IDF's plans
are for turning over the bodies. He cautioned de Soto that
the GOI and IDF prefer to talk directly to the GOL and have
indicated to the USG that they have no intention of
bargaining with Hizballah. The Ambassador observed that in
their current mood, the Israelis might be inclined to set
conditions on the turnover of Hizballah bodies with whomever
they ultimately deal with.


3. (C) Ambassador Jones raised the issue separately with MOD
advisers BGEN Eitan Dangott and Amos Gilad. Neither was
aware of any planned meetings in Camp Naqoura. Gilad doubted
that the bodies of the Hizballah fighters had even been
collected from the battlefield area.

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