TFLE01: GAMBIAN CONDEMNATION OF ISRAEL OVER QANA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000487 SIPDIS SIPDIS DAKAR PLS PASS RAO,ODC, AND DAO E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC PTER GA LE SUBJECT: TFLE01: GAMBIAN CONDEMNATION OF ISRAEL OVER QANA AIR STRIKE REF: BANJUL 476 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (D AND G) CONDEMNATION OF AIR STRIKE -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The GOTG wasted no time in condemning Israel over the July 30 air strike on Qana, Lebanon. Issuing a statement the same day. the GOTG denounced "this atrocious Israeli action," describing it as "illegal, barbaric, and inhuman." It called on the "International Community" to "ensure the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon." COMMENT -------------- ¶2. (C) In the past, GOTG statements on international developments have been infrequent, but the ongoing Mideast crisis has so far generated a flurry of anti-Israeli pronouncements by the GOTG, local Lebanese community, and the country's Supreme Islamic Council (reftels). So far, these pronouncements have contained no mention of the U.S.; the authors have stopped short of endorsing Hizballah or its extremist cause, while ignoring its responsibility for the crisis. Our judgement remains that the GOTG's pronouncements are first and foremost a gesture to the local Lebanese community, rather than a sign of sharply rising concern among Gambians generally over the Mideast turmoil END COMMENT. STAFFORD