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. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** JONES