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
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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
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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