LEBANON: KARAMEH WILL NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN SECOND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 001081

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: KARAMEH WILL NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN SECOND
GOVERNMENT, KEEN TO INITIATE USG CONTACTS


Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) A supporter of former PM Omar Karameh and Karameh's
son Faisal told Poloff that Karameh, notwithstanding his
rejection of the Siniora government, would not participate in
a second government, discounting rumors that he would head
such a government. The two stressed the elder Karameh's
desire to exchange views with USG officials, despite
political differences. They also discussed the challenges
the Lebanese Armed Forces face in their efforts to root out
Fatah al-Islam from Nahr Al-Barid, stressing that Islamic
radicals in Tripoli are a danger to all moderates. End
summary.

KARAMEH SENIOR OPEN TO DISCUSSION WITH U.S.
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2. (C) On July 10 Poloff met with Tripoli businessman Khaldun
Sharif, a supporter of former PM Omar Karameh, and the former
PM's son Faisal Karameh, at their request. They apparently
wanted to convey the elder Karameh's desire to clarify his
position in, and to exchange views with us on, the current
political situation. Sharif emphasized that Omar Karameh
would not participate in a second government, although he
considers the Siniora cabinet illegitimate and
unconstitutional. Faisal added that the situation is heading
towards confrontation and that as a party (his father's Arab
Liberation Party),they will not "play the game of blood and
civil war." The Karameh camp is keen to dialogue with USG
officials, regardless of political differences. Sharif noted
to Poloff that talking only to those who share "your agenda"
(an unveiled reference to March 14),will make the problems
worse.

LAF TASK IN NAHR AL-BARID COMPLICATED BY LOW FUNDING
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3. (C) Karameh described the situation in Tripoli, a city
close to the Nahr al-Bared fighting, as tense and difficult.
The fighting is affecting the economy, although people have
adapted. While it is unknown how Fatah al-Islam (FAI) is
getting its supplies and munitions to NAB, he speculated that
there is a network of tunnels. Sharif indicated that FAI
elements are often "embraced" (sheltered) by ordinary
citizens. Both Sharif and Karameh expressed complete support
for the LAF in its fight against FAI, but argued that, given
its weak intelligence, it should have used a different tactic
to root out the militants.


4. (C) Sharif lamented the fact that the LAF annual
intelligence budget is about USD two million compared to USD
60 million for the Internal Security Forces intelligence
services, adding that the LAF is the only institution that
still unites the Lebanese, and that LAF Commander General
Michel Sleiman could be the best candidate for president.
Both regarded Islamic radicals, particularly foreign ones, as
a danger to all moderates, noting that Pakistani religious
scholars are very active in parts of northern Lebanon,
especially in the poor neighborhood of Abu Samra.

LOW EXPECTATIONS FOR PARIS TALKS
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5. (C) Commenting on the July 14 - 17 Saint-Cloud talks,
which were about to start at the time of the conversation,
Faisal said that former Hizballah minister Mohamed Fneish,
with his moderate, clean reputation, was a good choice to
head the Hizballah delegation.
FELTMAN