TFLE01: TWO MORE PRO-HIZBALLAH PROTESTS; KUWAIT

UNCLAS KUWAIT 002883 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR TFLEO1 AND NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KU LE IS SUBJECT: TFLE01: TWO MORE PRO-HIZBALLAH PROTESTS; KUWAIT CONTINUES HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT TO LEBANON REF: KUWAIT 2855 Sensitive but unclassified. Not for internet distribution. ¶1. (U) According to press reports, 400 protesters gathered the evening of July 17 in front of a mosque about five miles from the Embassy to show their support for Hassan Nasrallah and Hizballah. Carrying pro-Hizballah banners and placards bearing anti-U.S. and anti-Israel statements, they called for the closure of the U.S. Embassy and a boycott of American and Israeli products. Another protest is scheduled for July 18 and is expected to take place in front of the National Assembly building. The protests have been non-violent and no direct threats have been made against the Embassy or other USG facilities in Kuwait. ¶2. (U) One local columnist faxed an article he wrote to the Embassy with a handwritten note to the Ambassador apologizing for the protests and advising him "not (to) be bothered as you are the good people." "We will never forget the role of the USA in liberating our country," he wrote. In the article, the columnist condemned the demonstrations, saying "those youngsters (who participated in the protests) must have been in diapers when Saddam invaded Kuwait which was liberated by the USA." He also reminded readers that Hizballah had participated in the hijacking of two planes in the 1980s, which resulted in the death of three Kuwaitis. Likewise, numerous Post contacts have telephoned to express regret for the protests and flag-burning (reftel). ¶3. (U) Reasserting its solidarity with Lebanon, Kuwait's Parliament issued a statement July 17 condemning Israel's actions and encouraging the international community to send assistance to the "innocent victims of Israeli aggression." It continued, "the region will not live in peace without a just solution to the Palestinian cause and ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and establishing a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital." Parliament further appealed to the international community to seek the intervention of the UN Security Council. Jassem Al-Khorafi, the Speaker of Parliament, told reporters after the session, "The continuation of such Israeli hostility will make us all terrorists." Recently elected MP Ahmad Lari, who has pro-Iranian tendencies, proposed naming two streets near downtown Kuwait City after two citizens who were killed by an Israeli missile attack on southern Lebanon. ¶4. (U) Generally, criticism of Israel and the U.S. has been muted with most Kuwaiti attention focused on the growing humanitarian crisis. The Kuwait Cabinet announced July 16 an emergency donation of $20 million "to provide urgent aid to our brothers in Lebanon to help them in the face of the barbaric aggression and to ease their suffering." In addition, the Kuwait Red Crescent society has opened its doors for public donations and two convoys carrying food aid have arrived in Lebanon. ¶5. (SBU) Despite the measured public comments, Post contacts have not been shy about sharing their views with EmbOffs. Most are critical of Hizballah, but question why the U.S. has not chastised Israel for the perceived targeting of civilian facilities. They are deeply concerned about the carnage and believe the U.S. could do more to prevent the loss of life. Many have also questioned the timing of the attacks and proffered several theories: Syria prompted Hizballah to divert attention from the proposed tribunal to try those accused in the Hariri assassination; Iran is using its agents to divert attention from the nuclear issue and to flex its muscle; and Syria supported the attacks to siphon off some of Lebanon's tourism income. They have also criticized the Arab League (AL) as feckless and complained about Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah's post-AL meeting remarks that Arab countries needed "solid policies that lead to building societies that are strong economically and enjoy freedom and human rights" in order to successfully challenge Israel. ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * TUELLER