Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MADRID1788
2006-07-13 11:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
SPAIN: STATEMENT ON ISRAEL-LEBANON BORDER STRIFE
how-toVZCZCXRO7751 PP RUEHAG DE RUEHMD #1788 1941134 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 131134Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0254 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001788
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2016
TAGS: PREL SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN: STATEMENT ON ISRAEL-LEBANON BORDER STRIFE
Classified By: A/DCM Kathy Fitzpatrick; reason 1.4 (B)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001788
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2016
TAGS: PREL SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN: STATEMENT ON ISRAEL-LEBANON BORDER STRIFE
Classified By: A/DCM Kathy Fitzpatrick; reason 1.4 (B)
1. (C) The MFA issued a statement July 12 condemning the
Hizballah cross-border raid and kidnapping of two Israel
soldiers and calling upon Israel to act with restraint. MFA
contacts told us that the Spanish statement would likely have
been more critical of Israel had it been released today,
after reports emerged of Israel's military strikes in
Lebanon. Media reports indicate that Deputy FM Bernardino
Leon will call in Arab ambassadors on July 13 or 14 to review
Spain's views on events in Lebanon and Israel.
//SPANISH STATEMENT//
2. The following is an unofficial translation of the Spanish
statement:
BEGIN TEXT
CONFRONTATION ON THE ISRAELI-LEBANESE BORDER
Madrid, 12 July, 2006
The Government of Spain expresses its strong condemnation of
the armed attack and kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by
Hizbollah forces that took place this morning in the border
area between Lebanon and Israel. This action and the
subsequent Israeli reaction create new instability, adding to
the deterioration of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The Spanish Government, deeply concerned by these grave
events, calls for an end to armed attacks against Israel and
for the immediate and unconditional release of the kidnapped
soldiers. In the same vein, (Spain) asks that Israel act
with moderation and proportionality to these events, taking
into account the importance of avoiding a generalization of
violence that would put at risk regional stability and would,
once again, primarily victimize the civilian population.
The Spanish Government is in permanent contact with the
Parties and with other international actors with the
objective of helping reduce tensions and contributing to the
resolution of the crisis.
END TEXT
//MFA FRUSTRATION WITH ISRAELI REACTION//
3. (C) MFA Middle East watchers told us July 13 that the
Spanish statement would likely have adopted a harsher tone
towards Israel had the MFA waited for the full reports of the
Israeli reaction to emerge. They conveyed a sense of
frustration with the direction of events and what they
described as Israel's "overreaction" to the kidnapping of its
soldiers.
AGUIRRE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2016
TAGS: PREL SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN: STATEMENT ON ISRAEL-LEBANON BORDER STRIFE
Classified By: A/DCM Kathy Fitzpatrick; reason 1.4 (B)
1. (C) The MFA issued a statement July 12 condemning the
Hizballah cross-border raid and kidnapping of two Israel
soldiers and calling upon Israel to act with restraint. MFA
contacts told us that the Spanish statement would likely have
been more critical of Israel had it been released today,
after reports emerged of Israel's military strikes in
Lebanon. Media reports indicate that Deputy FM Bernardino
Leon will call in Arab ambassadors on July 13 or 14 to review
Spain's views on events in Lebanon and Israel.
//SPANISH STATEMENT//
2. The following is an unofficial translation of the Spanish
statement:
BEGIN TEXT
CONFRONTATION ON THE ISRAELI-LEBANESE BORDER
Madrid, 12 July, 2006
The Government of Spain expresses its strong condemnation of
the armed attack and kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by
Hizbollah forces that took place this morning in the border
area between Lebanon and Israel. This action and the
subsequent Israeli reaction create new instability, adding to
the deterioration of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The Spanish Government, deeply concerned by these grave
events, calls for an end to armed attacks against Israel and
for the immediate and unconditional release of the kidnapped
soldiers. In the same vein, (Spain) asks that Israel act
with moderation and proportionality to these events, taking
into account the importance of avoiding a generalization of
violence that would put at risk regional stability and would,
once again, primarily victimize the civilian population.
The Spanish Government is in permanent contact with the
Parties and with other international actors with the
objective of helping reduce tensions and contributing to the
resolution of the crisis.
END TEXT
//MFA FRUSTRATION WITH ISRAELI REACTION//
3. (C) MFA Middle East watchers told us July 13 that the
Spanish statement would likely have adopted a harsher tone
towards Israel had the MFA waited for the full reports of the
Israeli reaction to emerge. They conveyed a sense of
frustration with the direction of events and what they
described as Israel's "overreaction" to the kidnapping of its
soldiers.
AGUIRRE