LEBANON: ATTACKS ON SINIORA ESCALATE, BECOME

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000709

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/MARCHESE/HARDING, STATE FOR NEA/ELA,
NEA/FO FOR ATACHCO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: ATTACKS ON SINIORA ESCALATE, BECOME
PERSONAL


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


1. (C) Summary: Attacks against Prime Minister Siniora,
both in the press and in local conversations, have escalated
and taken on a more personal tenor. These attacks, largely
led by Hizballah, but with contributions from both Sunni and
Shia individuals, have resurrected stories about Siniora and
his father, and launched more current charges of corruption
and political rifts. All media sources consider the
intensity of the ongoing attacks as qualitatively different
from previous criticism. End summary.


2. (C) During the last few weeks we have seen an increased
level of attacks directed at Prime Minister Fouad Siniora,
both in the press and via the ever-active Lebanese rumor
mill. While the opposition has always criticized Siniora, in
his role as the Prime Minister and leader of the majority's
share in the cabinet, the current trend is different. The
attacks are very personal, reaching back to vilify the PM's
father, and are to some extent bipartisan. This change has
been itself the subject of press commentary. As recently as
eight days ago the March 14 forces issued a statement saying,
"the campaign of false accusations which is targeting PM
Siniora has reached a dangerous peak, . . . and threatens
igniting the fire of sedition."


3. (C) Hizballah, largely through its television station Al
Manar, has certainly led the pack. Following a press
conference held by Siniora to review the progress in
reconstruction and payment of reparations, Al Manar ran
several reports lashing out at the PM. Beginning with its
political commentary, Al Manar ridiculed Siniora, criticized
the accuracy of his remarks, and repeated derogatory remarks
about the Lebanese and the southern suburbs, which they
attributed to Siniora. Al Manar also reported that Siniora
accused residents of the southern suburbs and other Hizballah
regions of "encroaching on common property." This was
followed up by a program specifically targeting Siniora and
his (deceased) father who, according to the program, were
themselves guilty of "encroaching" on common property in the
southern suburbs. They added that with regard to other
property encroachments elsewhere, this particular incident
was "only a drop" of what Siniora had taken for himself.


4. (C) The property story was picked up by other media
outlets after the series of attacks in Al Manar. Pro-Lahoud
Al-Bayraq newspaper related a comment by Speaker Berri
scoffing at Siniora's lack of generosity. An-Nahar reported,
"This escalating campaign against Siniora might aim at
getting Siniora to give assistance money to Hizballah".
Private, independent Future TV ran a report on a meeting
between MP Saad Hariri and the Mufti of Mount Lebanon
(Sunni),where the Mufti called on Hizballah to "change its
methods and manners" and to refrain from "lies and false
accusations." The PM's media office issued a statement
countering the accusations, saying that the story about the
PM and his father was "fabricated lies." Most media outlets
appear to believe that the attack targeting Siniora in
particular is intended to mobilize the street and escalate
political tensions. The goal appears to be to ensure that
Siniora can never serve as prime minister again. Echoing
that thought, editorialist Khodr Taleb in As-Safir tried to
link the attacks on Siniora to a breach between the PM and
Saad Hariri. This appeared to be an attempt to criticize the
majority without alienating Hariri. In addition, there was
some attempt to find an excuse for a weakening of the
opposition. The "resigned" ministers have gone back to their
offices to run their ministries, and a personal attack on
Siniora suggests that the ministers felt obliged to defend
the people and their ministries against him.


5. (C) In addition to attacks by Hizballah there have been
additional criticisms leveled at Siniora by both Sunni and
Shia sources. Sunni Islamic scholar Fathi Yakan referred to
Siniora's letter to the UN Security Council regarding the
tribunal as an "historical insult for the Sunni community in
Lebanon" as a part of a virulent attack. MP Ali Bazzi, a
member of the Amal movement, accused Siniora of isolating the
Shia community. New TV, in reporting on the launch of new
ADSL services in Lebanon, pointed out that the launch had
been delayed to allow Marwan Hamadeh's son to prepare his
company to handle that business. New TV then added that this
act of corruption was blessed and supported by the PM, as
evidenced by his presence at the press conference.


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6. (C) Comment: As prime minister of a country in the midst
of turmoil and with an aggressive opposition movement,
Siniora will always be subject to criticism. However, this
has become particularly virulent, personal and ugly, and is
generally regarded as a change in direction, to the point
that we are as concerned as ever for Siniora's safety. Part
of the campaign was aimed no doubt at an international
audience: what better way to undermine the credibility of
Siniora's letter to the UN Security Council asking for a
"binding" decision on the tribunal than to discredit the
sender? But, even though the letter has now been transmitted
and circulated, there is no diminishment in the attacks
against Siniora. Indeed, the fighting between Fatah al-Islam
and the LAF in the north is proving new opportunities, as the
pro-Syrian media and politicians pin blame on Siniora for
gaps in LAF equipment and supplies. End comment.
FELTMAN