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
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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
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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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