(C) TFLE01: GOK CALLS ON U.S. TO PRESSURE ISRAEL

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 002836

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARP AND TFLE01

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KU
SUBJECT: (C) TFLE01: GOK CALLS ON U.S. TO PRESSURE ISRAEL
TO STOP ALL OPERATIONS; SHARES CONCERNS ABOUT IRAN AND SYRIA


Classified By: CDA Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C/NF) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Khaled
Al-Jarallah convoked the Charge on July 15 to convey a
message from the Amir to President Bush about the situations
in Lebanon and the West Bank. Al-Jarallah described Lebanon
and Palestinian areas as "boiling now" and said recent
developments made am already complicated region much more
precarious. He said he was under instructions from the Amir
to ask the U.S. to place more effort on encouraging Israel to
cease all military operations in Lebanon, the West Bank, and
Gaza.


2. (C/NF) Al-Jarallah continued that the escalation of
violence hurt civilians most and commented that the Israeli
response "puts your (U.S.) friends in the region in a
difficult situation." He said the GOK was aware of U.S.
statements and hoped the effort would continue and succeed in
getting Israel to stop the attacks. Referring to the July 14
statement by Saudi Arabia, he informed the CDA that Foreign
Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed also condemned Hizbollah's
actions before departing for the Arab League meeting in
Cairo. The FM will press AL members to issue a balanced
statement similar to Saudi text. Al-Jarallah was hopeful
that "something positive" would be issued the evening of July

15.


3. (C/NF) The CDA appreciated GOK concern and its
constructive approach, and restated Israel's right to
self-defense. He offered condolences on the deaths of two
Kuwaitis killed during an attack in Tyre and reconfirmed U.S.
engagement, noting that NEA Assistant Secretary Welch was in
the region, informing Al-Jarallah of calls by the Secretary
to her counterparts, referring to presidential statements,
and advising him of the increase in U.S. assistance to the
Palestinian people. He also welcomed an AL statement along
the lines of the Saudi statement and encouraged the GOK to
make AL members aware of the destructive influence of Iran
and Syria. Al-Jarallah agreed that Iran and Syria fueled the
escalation of violence and Syria's role only encouraged
Hizbollah supporters who sought to control all of Lebanon on
behalf of Syria. He continued that Iran and Syria must
immediately stop their provocation and said Egypt had
delivered a strong message to both governments. He was
confident Shaykh Dr. Mohammed would speak to Syrian FM
Mu'allim while in Cairo and expected Saudi FM Prince Saud
Al-Faisal to do the same.

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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s

Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
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