TUNISIA RESPONDS FAVORABLY TO SAUDI STATEMENT;

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 001785 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA AND NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2016 TAGS: PREL KPAL IS TS UN SUBJECT: TUNISIA RESPONDS FAVORABLY TO SAUDI STATEMENT; PREDICTS "HOT" ARAB LEAGUE DISCUSSION REF: A. RIYADH 5601 ¶B. TUNIS 1775 ¶C. SECSTATE 114594 Classified By: Ambassador William Hudson for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In his July 14 farewell call on Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Hatem Ben Salem, Ambassador provided a copy of the Saudi statement on the situation in Palestine and Lebanon (ref A). Upon reading the informal English translation, Ben Salem expressed surprise at the "new" Saudi position, which, he said, is not unlike the Government of Lebanon stance, as articulated yesterday by GOL Prime Minister Siniora in his meeting with Arab Ambassadors. Siniora reportedly told the group that Hizballah represents an isolated element that does not represent the GOL, and that it had no right to draw Lebanon into war. While Ben Salem welcomed the moderate tone of the Saudi text, he predicted that it would lead to a "hot" discussion at tomorrow's Arab Leage session, possibly even a split. Ben Salem said the agenda of the meeting includes a) a discussion of the current situation in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon; and b) a Yemen-proposed call for an extraordinary meeting of Heads of State. He undertook to pass the Saudi text to his counterpart, Sleheddine Jemmali, who will be representing the GOT at the Arab League. ¶2. (C) Ben Salem gave his assurances the GOT would continue to play a constructive role on these issues, noting, "You can count on us." Referring to the Ambassador's recent demarche on the UNSC vote (refs B and C),he reiterated that the GOT had tried to seek a delay, but that their intervention had come too late. On the substance of the resolution, Ben Salem acknowledged that it was understandable that Israel would "react strongly" under the circumstances, while criticizing Israeli PM Olmert for the escalation in violence. "It's as if after 9/11 the U.S. would attack Mecca!" he exclaimed. He also took issue with the televised statement by an Israeli government spokesperson, who reportedly justified Israel's strikes on the Beirut airport by claiming that the GOI was destroying the Hizballah infrastructure. HUDSON