PLANNING FOR THE UNIFIL RENEWAL: ISRAEL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001336

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC KPKO IS LE
SUBJECT: PLANNING FOR THE UNIFIL RENEWAL: ISRAEL
SUGGESTIONS AND DPKO PREVIEW OF THE SYG'S REPORT


Classified By: Ambassador John R. Bolton, per 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. Israeli Mission to the UN Political
Counselor Gilad Cohen told Poloffs the week of June 26 that
the GOI believes the upcoming UNSC resolution extending the
mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
(UNIFIL) should urge the Lebanese Government to deploy forces
to three specific hot-spots along the Blue Line. He also
argued the resolution should revisit the question of whether
Lebanon's sovereignty has been fully restored -- given the
ongoing effort to implement UNSCR 1559's call for an end to
foreign interference in Lebanon. UN Department of
Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) political officer Cornelia
Frank told Poloffs June 30 that she would consider how the
report could highlight hot-spots along the Blue Line, but she
predicted it would focus more on areas where Hizballah has
established fortifications adjacent to UNIFIL locations.
DPKO plans to release the SYG's report on July 21. UNIFIL's
current mandate will expire on July 31. End Summary.

Israel Proposes New Language
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2. (C) During a conversation with Poloffs on June 27 about
the July 31 renewal of UNIFIL's mandate, Israeli Political
Counselor Gilad Cohen suggested that the USG consider
proposing several changes to the language in UNSCR 1655 that
authorized the most recent extension of UNIFIL,s mandate (on
January 31, 2006):

-- PP3: "...has essentially completed parts of its mandate,
focusing now on the remaining tasks of restoring
international peace and security, and assisting the
Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of effective
authority in the area.

-- PP5: "...Gravely concerned at the ... on 27 December 2005
and the hostilities initiated from the Lebanese side on 28
May 2006, which demonstrate..."

-- OP6: "Recalls Security Council resolutions in which the
Government of Lebanon has been called upon to fully extend
and exercise its sole and effective authority throughout the
South and expresses concern that little progress has been
made in this regard,

-- OP8 (bis): "Concerned that little progress has been made
in establishing a Joint Planning Cell as recommended by the
Secretary-General,

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-- OP8 (ter): "Urges the Government of Lebanon to establish a
permanent presence of Lebanese Army units in the north east
of the village of al Ghajjar (4-28),in the vicinity of the
village of Hula (8-33) and in the area of Rmaich (5-20 to
5-22) as well as through joint patrols along the Blue Line."


3. (C) Explaining the above suggestions, Cohen questioned the
assertion in PP3 of UNSCR 1655 that two of three parts of
UNIFIL's mandate -- including the task of restoring Lebanon's
sovereignty -- had been fulfilled. Arguing that the ongoing
efforts to implement UNSCR 1559 demonstrate that Lebanon's
sovereignty has not been fully restored, Cohen suggested that
Israel's alternate formulation more accurately describes
UNIFIL's remaining mission. But he also acknowledged that
the USG might have legal concerns about changing the language
in PP3 and said Israel would understand if the current
formulation had to be retained.


4. (C) Cohen defended Israel's proposal for OP8 (bis) by
noting that the Lebanese have not responded to UNIFIL Force
Commander Pelligrini's letter requesting the establishment of
the JPC. On OP8 (ter),Cohen explained that the three towns
listed represent areas of frequent cross-border tension. If
the Lebanese Army deployed to these towns, he said, the
incidence of Lebanese shepherds straying into Israel and
provoking IDF gunfire would decline significantly. Cohen
also expressed hope that UNIFIL could persuade the Lebanese
Government to erect signs near the Blue Line in these areas
to warn its citizens not to proceed.


5. (C) Poloffs agreed to convey Israel's suggestions to
Washington, but noting the significant changes from previous
language, also urged Cohen to consult with DPKO before the
finalization of the SYG's next report on UNIFIL. If the
SYG's report highlights the need for the Lebanese Army to
deploy to the three specific towns mentioned in OP8 (ter),it
might be possible to make this point in the resolution by
drawing from language in the report. Poloffs also encouraged
Cohen to exchange views with the Secretariat on progress
towards Lebanese Army deployments in the South and efforts to

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establish the JPC.

DPKO Outlines SYG Report
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6. (C) Poloffs met DPKO political officer Cornelia Frank on
June 30 to discuss the SYG's next report on UNIFIL, after she
heard Israel's views from Cohen. While agreeing to consider
how the Secretariat could highlight areas along the Blue Line
where Lebanese forces were most needed, she predicted the
report would focus more on the locations where Hizballah has
constructed fortifications next to UNIFIL locations. She
recalled that GOL officials have told UNIFIL Force Commander
Pelligrini several times that the GOL would not deploy troops
to areas considered part of the Sheba'a Farms region, such as
Ghajjar. Frank added that Lebanese MFA official Boutros
Assaker had reiterated that point to DPKO during his recent
visit to New York.


7. (C) Frank acknowledged that little progress has been made
towards the establishment of the JPC, despite Pelligrini's
repeated efforts to engage the GOL, and suggested the report
would recognize this point. She did note that the GOL has
expressed its intention to deply 100 personnel to Naqoura
Harbor, in UNIFIL's area of operation, most likely by the end
of the summer. She explained that this deployment would have
to await the construction of a GOL installation at the
harbor, which itself could only proceed once a road project
linking Naqoura to nearby towns is complete. Frank expressed
hope that these 100 Lebanese Army personnel would represent a
new deployment to the south rather than a realignment of
existing forces in the area.


8. (C) While Frank predicted the SYG's report would not
mention the assassination of two Palestinian Islamic Jihad
terrorists in Sidon on May 28 -- since the attack is not
germane to UNIFIL's mandate except insofar as it influences
the political environment -- she did say the report would
chronicle the increase in Israeli overflights of Lebanese
territory around the time of the May 28 hostilities. She
said the report would confirm that the May 28 hostilities
were initiated on the Lebanese side, although it was not
clear which party -- Hizballah or the Palestinians -- was
responsible.
BOLTON