LEBANON: HOLY SEE CONDEMNS ACTIONS OF BOTH SIDES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000134

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/14/2016
TAGS: PREL VT LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: HOLY SEE CONDEMNS ACTIONS OF BOTH SIDES


VATICAN 00000134 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Christopher Sandrolini, Charge d'affaires a.i.,
EXEC, State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)


1. (C) Summary. The Holy See's foreign minister summoned charge
July 14 to discuss the situation in Lebanon. The Holy See
issued a public statement condemning both terrorist attacks and
Israel's response to them in Lebanon. The pope will make a
statement on the matter on Sunday, July 16. The Holy See fears
an escalation of conflict, believes the United States' image is
suffering, and calls upon the United States to act swiftly to
persuade Israel to withdraw its troops. End summary.



2. (SBU) Charge d'affaires was summoned on short notice July 14
to see Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, the Holy See's Secretary for
Relations with States (i.e. Foreign Minister). Lajolo gave
charge a copy of a statement just released on Vatican Radio (see
para 6 for text and translation). Charge noted USG position on
Israel's right to defend itself, condemnation of Hizballah
actions, and call for all sides to act with restraint. Lajolo
said that Pope Benedict XVI would make a statement on the matter
on Sunday (July 16).



3. (C) Lajolo said that attacks by Hizballah or Hamas were
unjustified, but so was Israel's response. Israel belongs to
the world of law-abiding countries; but it had failed to take
international law into account with its indiscriminate bombing
of both military and civilian targets. Lajolo said the Holy See
has no influence on the government of Israel, but the United
States has a role to play for world peace. There is a danger
that this local conflict will get out of control; countries like
Iran are looking for an opportunity to interfere. The
international community should press Israel to remove its forces
from Lebanon as soon as possible -- Lajolo further made clear
that the Holy See believes Israel should withdraw from all
occupied territories. He described Lebanon as paralyzed. Only
the US can intervene; only its voice will be heard by Israel.



4. (C) Continuing, Lajolo said that Palestinians never hear
from the United States that Israel should withdraw from occupied
territories. The US is not seen as impartial by Palestinians.
Perhaps this perception is not correct, but it remains. Lajolo
recognized that public statements are not the only, or most
effective, ways for the US to influence Israel. He urged that
the USG "put all weight on Israel to bring them to reason".



5. (C) Lajolo said he saw no point to calling in the Israeli
ambassador. He noted that the Lebanese ambassador had come in
to see him, hoping for news, since he (the ambassador) is
totally cut off from information from home. Lajolo added that
the Holy See had been unable to reach the papal nuncio by land
line or cell phone. He did not have any information on whether
Church members had been among the casualties.


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Holy See Statement and informal translation
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6. (U)

--Dichiarazione dell'Em.Mo Card. Angelo Sodano, Segretario di
Stato, Sulla Situazione in Medio Oriente

-- Le notizie che ci giungono dal Medio Oriente sono certamente
preoccupanti. Il Santo Padre Benedetto XVI e tutti i Suoi
Collaboratori seguono con particolare attenzione gli ultimi
drammatici episodi che rischiano di degenerare in un conflitto
con ripercussioni internazionali.


-- Come in passato, anche la Santa Sede condanna sia gli
attacchi terroristici degli uni sia le rappresaglie militari
degli altri. Infatti, il diritto alla difesa da parte di uno
Stato non esime dal rispetto delle norme del diritto
internazionale, sopratutto per cio che riguarda la salvaguardia
delle popolazioni civili.


-- In particolare, la Santa Sede deplora ora l'attacco al
Libano, una Nazione libera e sovrana, ed assicura la sua
vicinanza a quelle popolazioni, che gia tanto hanno sofferto per
la difesa della propria indipendenza. Ancora una volta appare
evidente come l'unica via degna della nostra civilta sia quella
del dialogo sincero fra le Parti in causa.


(post translation)


VATICAN 00000134 002.2 OF 002


--The news coming out of the Middle East is certainly worrying.
The Holy Father, Benedict XVI, and all his colleagues are
following closely the most recent events that risk deteriorating
into a conflict with international repercussions.


--As in the past, the Holy See condemns on the one hand
terrorist attacks and military reprisals on the other. In fact,
the right to self defense by a State does not exonerate it from
respecting the norms of international law, above all when the
safety of civilian populations is concerned. Once again, it is
clear that the only way worthy of our civilization is that of
sincere dialogue between the Parties in disagreement.


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Comment
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7. (C) Feelings are running high here; charge was also
buttonholed at the French national day reception by ambassadors
concerned about the situation, and one Arab ambassador expressed
grave concern about the US veto of a resolution calling on
Israel to withdraw. The Israeli ambassador here is capable and
well regarded; that Lajolo would not even bother to call him,
and that Lajolo would consider that the Holy See "has no
influence" on Israel, are telling indicators of the state of
mind of the Holy See toward Israel. We also note Lajolo's
emphasis on the image of the United States, particularly in the
eyes of Palestinians, and his concern for likely Iranian
interference. Unless there is notable progress in the next day
or so, it seems likely that Pope Benedict XVI will issue a
strong call for peace on Sunday, possibly echoing Sodano's
direct reference to Israeli withdrawal.
SANDROLINI