TFLE01: UAE PM SPEAKS OUT ON LEBANON

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003163 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KMDR LE AE SUBJECT: TFLE01: UAE PM SPEAKS OUT ON LEBANON REF: ABU DHABI 3102 Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (U) UAE headlines August 2 cited Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MbR, also ruler of Dubai) expressing solidarity with Prime Minister Siniora in a telephone call the previous evening. UAE media also highlighted MbR's statements early on August 1, in which he praised the Lebanese people for their bravery against "barbaric Israeli aggressors" who indiscriminately attacked civilian and military targets in Lebanon. He also "held Israel fully responsible for crossing the red line in this war" and stated that Israeli targeting clearly showed that it was not only hitting Hezbollah, but "the whole of Lebanon, including its civilization, history, resources, achievements, and various sects, especially innocent children who have been brutally killed." ¶2. (SBU) The Prime Minister's strong words come amidst ongoing humanitarian outreach to the Lebanese people. Official UAE web sites note Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nayhan visiting Lebanese patients who have been transported (by the UAEG) to a military hospital in Abu Dhabi for treatment. Reports of four more planeloads of UAE aid arriving in Beirut also feature on August 2. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: UAE residents of all nationalities continue to be energized by the crisis in Lebanon. Angry headlines and editorials reflect a deep concern, as do the strong statements of senior government officials -- two of the strongest of which have been by the Foreign Minister (ref A) and now by the Prime Minister. End comment. QUINN