FRENCH REACTIONS TO ESCALATING SITUATION IN THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 004850

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2017
TAGS: PREL AEMR MARR CASC LE KHLS FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH REACTIONS TO ESCALATING SITUATION IN THE
MIDDLE EAST

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, Reason 1
.4 B/D


1. (C) SUMMARY: President Chirac, speaking from St.
Petersburg on Sunday, supported a G8 call for an end to
Hezbollah and Israeli military actions and the immediate
disarmament of Hezbollah. Chirac and French public
officials at all levels continue to call Israel's reactions
disproportionate, but provoked. Following emergency cabinet
level meetings this morning, Prime Minister de Villepin and
FM Douste-Blazy departed for Beirut where they will meet
their counterparts and address Lebanon's French community.
France's military has been mobilized in anticipation of
evacuating as many as 6000 EU nationals, and as needed,
nationals of the US and other countries. According to MFA
officials, FM Douste-Blazy spoke late last night with Foreign
Ministers of Germany and Spain about evacuation efforts and
to advise them of today's mission to Lebanon. He also spoke
with Israeli Foriegn Minister Livni and Lebanese Prime
Minister Siniora, to whom he pledged France's solidarity and
sympathy for civilian casualties. The situation is
dominating most headlines and personalities from acorss the
spectrum of French society are calling for an end to the
violence, while speculating on the possible spread of the
conflict. The US role in the Middle East figures heavily in
their analyses. END SUMMARY


2. (U) President Chirac, speaking from St. Petersburg on
Sunday after a bilateral meeting with President Bush,
supported a G8 call for an end to Hezbollah and Israeli
offensive actions and the immediate disarmament of Shia
Lebanese Hezbollah. He reiterated that international
pressure for further implementation of UNSCR 1559 and full
empowerment of the democratically-elected Lebanese government
remain critical elements of any long term solution to the
current crisis. Noting his accord with President Bush, he
gave full French support to the UN Mission's role in
mediating the release of Israeli soldiers and the cessation
of attacks into Israel. According to press reports, Chirac
also commented that the G8 recognized the "disproportionate
character" of Israel's reactions, while at the same time
acknowledging that Israel had been provoked. Chirac warned
that the current crisis threatened the stability of the
entire region.


3. (C) Prime de Villepin and FM Douste-Blazy departed for
Lebanon this afternoon after a meeting with Defense Minister
Alliot-Marie. According to MFA officials, they intend to see
their counterparts, express solidarity with the Lebanese
people, and convey condolences for civilian deaths. Prime
Minister de Villepin will likely address the French community
and meet with French evacuees as they depart Lebanon via a
Greek ferry ship bound for Cyprus.


4. (C) On July 17, FM Douste-Blazy's cabinet advisor for
Middle East Affairs, Christophe Guilhou, told poloff that the
FM had contacted Israeli FM Livni late on the night of July
16, as well as Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora, to discuss
the situation and advise them of today's mission. He was
also in contact with his German and Spanish counterparts
about evacuation efforts and analysis of the crisis. Mr.
Guilhou reiterated points made by Chirac at the G8 concerning
immediate implementation of UNSCR 1559 and the protection of
civilian populations. He was unsure what steps France would
seek in the Security Council at the moment but mentioned the
possibility for further UNSC action. Expressing a certain
frustration at Israeli military actions, he said the
destruction to civilian infrastructure was making French
evacuation operations difficult.


5. (C) France is moving quickly to evacuate all French
nationals seeking assistance. Overnight, we understand that
the French have reinforced their Embassy personnel and sent a
passenger ferry to Lebanon that should hold as many as 1,200
people. They have activated helicopters, transport aircraft,
and a Dock Landing Ship with capability of hosting up to
1,800 people. There are 17,000 French nationals reportedly
living in Lebanon, and an additional 14,000 EU nationals who
may be in need of evacuation. The French Joint Operations
staff is estimating 6,000 people will seek assistance. The
first ferry from Lebanon should arrive in Cyprus the evening
of July 17.


6. (U) The key messages delivered by most officials and
commentators on the situation were mixed, but focused on:
disproportionate use of force by the Israelis, threat of the
spread of violence into neighboring states, speculation of
Iran's influence on Hezbollah's actions, and regret at the
destruction of years of rebuilding in Lebanon after the
brutal civil war. Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy called
Hezbollah the "aggressor" and supported Israel's right to
defend itself. He went further than other French officials
by publicly commenting on links between Hezbollah and Iran.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Mitterand,
Roland Dumas, warned of further escalation and (predictably)
blamed Israeli and US policies for the current crisis. He
pressed for France to take a lead role in seeking an
initiative with other "non Anglo-Saxon" countries like Italy,
Spain, and Greece. Former FM (and Sarkozy advisor) Herve de
Charette called Hezbollah's actions deliberate and clearly a
concerted effort with other actors in the region, notably
Syria and Iran. Israel's overreaction to Hezbollah's
provocation, however, had only served to make Israel appear
as the aggressor. He called for the EU to take a more active
role in the crisis, and avoid letting the US dictate EU
policy in the region. UMP Parliamentarian, Pierre Lellouche
also warned of the implications for further escalation.
Israeli actions, he said, were only serving to further
radicalize Hamas. Iran, he said, was likely responsible for
the events as a way to turn attention away from the Iranian
nuclear question at the G8.

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm

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