MGLE01: HIZBALLAH ASSOCIATE SEES A MISUNDERSTOOD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001038 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2016 TAGS: IS KISL KPAL LE PGOV PTER SUBJECT: MGLE01: HIZBALLAH ASSOCIATE SEES A MISUNDERSTOOD HIZBALLAH, READY TO TALK REF: 05 BEIRUT 2396 Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman. Reason: Section 1.4 (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Econoff and FSN political specialist met with former Hizballah bloc MP Georges Najm on March 29. Najm, who is not a member of Hizballah, said that he maintained ties to Hizballah, especially MP Mohammad Raad and Minister of Energy and Water Mohammad Fneish. Najm painted a moderate picture of Hizballah, saying that its leaders are honorable and that an Islamic republic in Lebanon is no longer a Hizballah goal. According to Najm, Hizballah is willing to disarm and join the Lebanese Army once the Shebaa Farms are "liberated," Lebanese prisoners in Israel are freed, and Palestinian militant groups in Lebanon are disarmed. Najm said that Hizballah officials do not hate Americans; many have relatives in the U.S. Hizballah simply views the USG as misguided, and distrusts it for its perceived bias in favor of Israel. However, Hizballah officials are eager to engage in a dialogue with USG officials. Najm denied that Hizballah would ever attack the Embassy. Najm was not sure how the new electoral law proposals might affect the Christians of Jezzine, but claimed that Hizballah enjoyed considerable support among southern Christians. End summary. NAJM'S HIZBALLAH TIES -------------- ¶2. (C) On March 29, econoff and FSN political specialist met with Georges Najm, a former MP in Hizballah's parliamentary bloc from 2000-2005. Najm, a Maronite Christian from Jezzine, is not a member of Hizballah, but admits to maintaining both political and personal ties to Hizballah even following his removal from its parliamentary list in 2005. Najm did not blame Hizballah for his removal from the joint Amal-Hizballah list. He accused Speaker of Parliament and Amal movement leader Nabih Berri for asking Hizballah to replace him with Pierre Serhal. Najm claimed that Berri wanted him out of power because he enjoys real, grass roots popularity among the Christians of Jezzine, and is thus a threat to Berri's hold on the south. Serhal, on the other hand, only had a limited constituency, according to Najm. IS HIZBALLAH MODERATING? -------------- ¶3. (C) Najm, claiming to keep in touch with Hizballah periodically and maintaining friendships with MP Mohammad Raad and Minister of Energy and Water Mohammad Fneish, painted a moderate picture of Hizballah. He described Raad and Fneish as honest, professional, and modest. "You would not believe how modestly they live," said Najm drawing a comparison with the wealthy politicians of March 14. He recounted a meeting with Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah a few years ago. Najm told Nasrallah that if Hizballah wanted an Islamic republic in Lebanon, he would be at the forefront to oppose it. Nasrallah agreed, telling Najm that an Islamic republic is no longer a Hizballah goal. ¶4. (C) Najm claimed that Hizballah only wants to "liberate" the Shebaa Farms, free Lebanese prisoners in Israeli jails, and safeguard Lebanon against Palestinian militant groups. Once those conditions are met, according to Najm, Hizballah will disarm and join the Lebanese Army. Econoff asked how can Lebanon regain the Shebaa Farms if it does not know the boundaries of the territories it claims. Najm said that he understood the Shebaa Farms to include Ghajar and some, but not all, of Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Sheikh). Najm was unconcerned that the mostly Syrian Alawi resident of Ghajar may not want inclusion into Lebanon, saying that they settled there after 1956. Regarding Palestinian arms, econoff pointed out the contradiction that if, as Najm asserted, Hizballah wants to keep its arms for fear of another Palestinian uprising like during the civil war, why was Hizballah so friendly with the Palestinian militant groups in Lebanon. Najm replied that Hizballah was dragging out disarmament of Palestinian militias only because then its own militia would be discussed next. Hizballah's support of Palestinian militants was only tactical. The reality was that Hizballah and its Shia constituents fear a Palestinian resurgence in Lebanon. DISTRUSTS, BUT BEIRUT 00001038 002 OF 002 DOES NOT HATE USG -------------- ¶5. (C) Regarding the United States, Najm emphatically denied any Hizballah intention to harm the Embassy or American citizens. Hizballah does not hate Americans; many Hizballah officials have relatives in the U.S. Hizballah's problem is with the USG, Najm continued, but not at the level of enmity. Hizballah distrusts the USG because of perceived USG bias in favor of Israel to the detriment to the Arab countries, he clarified. Najm suggested that Hizballah sees the USG more as a misguided giant than an evil force. For example, he said Hizballah officials reacted to the recent USG designation of "Al Manar" television and other Hizballah-linked media outlets as brought on by the Jewish lobby in Washington. All Hizballah wants, according to Najm, is an even-handed approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Hizballah is not demanding that the USG forsake Israel, just that it treats the Arab countries at the same level it treats Israel, according to Najm. ¶6. (C) When econoff asked how Hizballah's rhetoric can be so hateful if Hizballah does not consider the USG an enemy, Najm replied that Hizballah is just reacting to USG statements labeling it a terrorist organization. The terrorist label really upsets Hizballah officials and they felt they needed to reply. Nonetheless, Hizballah officials are eager to meet with USG officials to engage in a dialogue, according to Najm. He said that Labor Minister Trad Hamadeh (another associate, though not member, of Hizballah) would not have met with the Ambassador last year had Hizballah disapproved. "Nor would I meet with you a second time, if they were opposed," said Najm with a smile (reftel). Najm offered to serve as a middle man between Hizballah and the Embassy, if the USG were so inclined. Econoff replied that the USG is not so inclined and meetings between USG officials and terrorist groups are forbidden. ELECTORAL LAW IN JEZZINE -------------- ¶7. (C) Econoff inquired whether some of the new electoral law proposals would change prospects for the Christians of Jezzine who are now subsumed in a large electoral district dominated by Amal-Hizballah. Najm replied that he may run again for parliament in the next elections in 2009. He was undecided on whether to run on Hizballah's list because his prospects would depend on how the electoral districts are drawn. He believes Hizballah enjoys considerable support among southern Christians. Hizballah delivered winter fuel to the Christians of Jezzine before its Shia constituents, according to Najm. Najm also claimed that the Maronite Church in the south owns some of the land of the Shebaa Farms. The Maronite church would then supposedly gain a financial boast if Hizballah "liberated" the Shebaa Farms for Lebanon. COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (C) Najm's take on Hizballah is typical of Lebanese who wish to see the Shia group bright into a political process that maintains Lebanon's links with the USG. We can not share his view of Hizballah as a moderate party. Despite a spirited debate, the meeting was cordial. Najm appeared genuinely interested in developing contacts with the Embassy. He offered a unique inside view of Hizballah thinking, though with a healthy dose of party line. End comment. FELTMAN