TAJIK FOREIGN MINISTER DISAPPOINTED IN ISRAEL

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 001557 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN NSC FOR MERKEL E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/14/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR IR TI SUBJECT: TAJIK FOREIGN MINISTER DISAPPOINTED IN ISRAEL REF: STATE 132517 CLASSIFIED BY: Tom Hushek, Charge d'Affaires, U.S. Embassy, Dushanbe, State. REASON: 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) Tajik Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov responded to the points on UNSC resolution 1701 (reftel) by voicing his concern over the situation in Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories. In a 45-minute discussion with Charge, Nazarov suggested Israel should compensate Lebanon for the "$3 billion" in damage it has caused. In his opinion, the military response was disproportionate for two soldiers taken by Hezbollah, particularly considering the number of civilian casualties. "Lebanon has no anti-aircraft forces, no major army" to counter an Israeli "mass attack." He criticized the high numbers of women and children victims reported, compared to figures of just 40 Hezbollah fighters killed. ¶2. (C) He also accused Israel of conducting a "Blitzkrieg" using Palestinian territory as a "firing range." He considered it a "crime" that large-scale military operations in Gaza began as the result of one solider being taken. Nazarov observed that thousands of Arabs were in Israeli prisons, and Israel also arrested parliamentarians and deputy ministers in response. ¶3. (C) "We have very good relations with Israel," he noted, "But I am personally very disappointed with their actions. They are now isolated from the rest of the world." He noted that Germany rarely comments on Israel, positive or negative, but now, even German public opinion is against the Israeli actions in Lebanon. "Israel doesn't need to behave like this," he said. "How did the Prime Minister come to this position? Previous Prime Ministers behaved differently." He cautioned that Israel "seriously miscalculated" its actions and as a consequence, it neighbors would soon start arming themselves. "We used to admire the Israeli intelligence service," for its skill and precision, he said, "but now it seems it was all a myth. Anyone can use brute force." He predicted that many Israeli citizens, displeased by their government's actions, would look for possibilities to emigrate, including back to the countries of the former Soviet Union. ¶4. (C) COMMENT: Nazarov rarely comments negatively about international events, so his sharp remarks about Israel represent an unusual side to the foreign minister. Tajikistan has traditionally taken a neutral approach to events in the Middle East and has maintained cordial relations with Israel. The disappointment Nazarov expressed suggests that Israel's motivations are poorly understood in Dushanbe. END COMMENT. HUSHEK