SPIEGEL URGES RAPID USG STAND-UP OF ISRAEL-LEBANON

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 003151 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL KWBG IS SUBJECT: SPIEGEL URGES RAPID USG STAND-UP OF ISRAEL-LEBANON MONITORING GROUP TEAM Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). (C) Minister of Defense Advisor BG (res) Baruch Spiegel told Embassy political and economic counselors August 9 that the USG must energize to stand up its portion of a new Israel-Lebanon Monitoring Group now, in order for it to engage in southern Lebanon in time to prevent "a vacuum." Spiegel said the new monitoring group, which, he recommended, should be independent of regional missions and whose U.S. element should report directly to Washington, must be ready to coordinate and conduct liaison activities between France, Israel, Lebanon, the United States and UNIFIL immediately upon declaration of a cease-fire, even before what he termed a "UNIFIL-plus" force takes to the field. He argued for an advance team to take to the field even before the overall organization and mission are finalized, if necessary. The group needs what he described as a solid mandate to "keep a total cease-fire" and "the power to check and act immediately." The group can be based at Naqoura or elsewhere. He argued that while the Israeli and Lebanese liaison mechanisms with UNIFIL "are not perfect," they exist and function, and they can be enhanced rapidly. The humanitarian relief coordination cell at the IDF base in Tel Aviv is already functioning and is fully coordinating operations on the ground in southern Lebanon, he said. If the parties upgrade those mechanisms as part of a cease-fire, the group can discuss and handle humanitarian needs, confidence-building measures, coordination of IDF withdrawals in advance of a multinational deployment, and construction activities, among other issues. He said that the IDF planning Department is developing, and should have ready within days, a proposal for such a group. He urged the USG to begin developing its own concepts so it can be prepared to respond rapidly to the IDF proposal. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** JONES