LEBANON: READOUT FROM AUGUST 16 LAF-UNIFIL-IDF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 002687 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/SINGH/HARDING E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2016 TAGS: IS LE MOPS PGOV PREL PTER SY SUBJECT: LEBANON: READOUT FROM AUGUST 16 LAF-UNIFIL-IDF MEETING IN NAQOURA Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman. Reason: Section 1.4 (b). ¶1. (C/NF) The UNSYG's Personal Representative for Lebanon Geir Pedersen called the Ambassador with notes from a coordination meeting held Wednesday, August 16 in Naqoura, chaired by UNIFIL Commander Major General Alain Pellegrini, and attended by an IDF delegation headed by General Udi Dekel, and a LAF contingent headed by General Abdul Rahman Shaytaly. This readout is second-hand information, as Pedersen was not at the meeting, so more accurate or complete information may come later from the participants themselves. ¶2. (C/NF) Pedersen's notes, gleaned from his conversation with General Pellegrini: -- The IDF proposed withdrawing from the 5-7 km deep border area in stages. The Israelis estimated the entire movement could take about ten days. They proposed ad hoc arrangements that implement the withdrawal sector by sector. Each sector would be discussed separately and, when the handover was complete in a particular sector, discussions would then proceed on the next sector. -- The LAF representatives were not comfortable with this idea. They wanted an agreed timetable, up front. The LAF also proposed starting with a sector located along the Blue Line in the Shebaa area. For the LAF, it was important to establish a presence as quickly as possible on the Blue Line. The LAF pushed hard for a Blue Line presence early in the process. -- The IDF showed sympathy for the LAF's desire to move while there was political momentum on the Lebanese side. But, while trying to be forthcoming, the IDF couldn't commit itself to anything specific on the Blue Line in this meeting. The LAF felt the IDF was trying to be helpful on this issue. -- The IDF gave the LAF maps of minefields and information on UXOs in the first sector (possibly in sector 16) for the first stage of the LAF's deployment. -- The IDF agreed to LAF's request to move troops by helicopter and ship. The ships would proceed from Tripoli, Jounieh, and Beirut, south to Tyre. (Note: The Ambassador had heard from a MOD source that the destination agreed upon was Sidon, not Tyre. We do not know the truth, but Tyre would make more sense in terms of distance and logistics. End note.) -- It was agreed that UNIFIL would have an embedded officer at IDF headquarters and LAF headquarters for the duration of the handover, in order to improve coordination and minimize miscommunication. -- The LAF still refuses the idea of direct, expert-level consultations, except through UNIFIL. -- The IDF raised the issued of the two Israeli abducted soldiers. LAF said that was a political issue on which they had no authority to respond. -- The next LAF/IDF/UNIFIL coordination meeting is scheduled for Sunday in Naqoura. FELTMAN