Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BEIRUT913
2007-06-21 14:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

LEBANON: UNIFIL COMMANDER WARNS ISRAEL WILL

Tags:  IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 1254
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000913 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/MARCHESE/HARDING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2017
TAGS: IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: UNIFIL COMMANDER WARNS ISRAEL WILL
RETALIATE IF ATTACKED AGAIN FROM LEBANON

Classified By: DCM William Grant. Reason: Section 1.4 (b).

SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000913

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/MARCHESE/HARDING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2017
TAGS: IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: UNIFIL COMMANDER WARNS ISRAEL WILL
RETALIATE IF ATTACKED AGAIN FROM LEBANON

Classified By: DCM William Grant. Reason: Section 1.4 (b).

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


1. (C) UNIFIL Force Commander Graziano, calling the June 17
rocket attack against Israel a "severe violation" of UNSCR
1701, credited excellent UNIFIL communication with the
Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and Israeli restraint for
Israel's decision not to retaliate. However, he warned that
Israeli was likely to retaliate in the event of a future,
expected attack, and urged UNSC members to support UNIFIL's
efforts to contain Tel Aviv. Both Lebanese and Israeli
defense forces blamed foreign groups (and not Hizballah) for
the attacks. Graziano also reported on recent progress in
demarcating the Blue Line and reaching agreement on security
arrangements for Ghajar. End summary.


2. (C) UNIFIL Force Commander General Claudio Graziano
briefed ambassadors from UN Security Council member-states on
June 20 on recent developments in UNIFIL's area of
operations, including the June 17 rocket attack against
Israel and progress on the Tripartite process to demarcate
the Blue Line. DCM, accompanied by Pol/Econ Chief,
represented the Embassy; other countries represented included
the UK, France, Russia, China and Belgium. Graziano was
accompanied by Senior Advisor Milos Strugar and other members
of his staff.

ROCKET ATTACKS: NEXT TIME, ISRAEL WILL RETALIATE
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Graziano began his briefing with an outline of events
surrounding the June 17 firing of three katyusha rockets (107
mm with a range of up to nine kilometers) from El Aadeissa
(south Lebanon) into Israel, calling it a "severe violation"
of UNSCR 1701 aimed at undermining the Lebanese Armed Forces
(LAF) and UNIFIL. Only two of the rockets reached their
target, causing damage but no casualties; a third rocket
misfired and was not found. Upon reaching the launch site,
UNIFIL and Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) found a fourth,
unlaunched rocket along with a timing device. Graziano said

reports of the Israelis firing five shells in response to the
attacks were "totally false."


4. (C) The Israelis, thanks largely to UNIFIL's on-going and
immediate intervention following the attacks (Graziano said
UNIFIL has effectively assumed the role of hotline between
the LAF and IDF),agreed not to retaliate. Israel's
restraint was also the result of PM Siniora's quick
condemnation of the attacks and Israel's belief that
Palestinian extremists similar to the ones the LAF is
actively battling in Nahr al-Barid are responsible. Eisenkot
reportedly blamed Asbat al Ansar (based in the Ain al-Hilweh
refugee camp in Sidon) for the attacks, claiming he had
information the group was planning another attack in the
near future, a view Graziano found credible since a single
attack "was not logical." Graziano warned the UNSC
representatives that Israel would not hold back the next time
an attack occurred. Urging them to support UNIFIL's efforts
to contain Tel Aviv, Graziano stressed that Israeli
retaliation in response to a future attack "would be
disastrous." Graziano said Hizballah denied any
responsibility and he noted it was unlikely the group was
involved.


5. (C) In a June 18 meeting with UNIFIL, LAF leaders also
said foreign (Palestinian and/or Syrian) groups probably were
involved in the attacks, which they believed were carried out
by the PFLP-GC. The LAF believed the purpose was to open a
second front (after Nahr al-Barid) in Lebanon and to
destabilize the situation in the south. ID checks on the
more than 100 people arrested by the LAF in connection with
the attacks suggested that about 50 percent of the
perpetrators were non-Lebanese, coming from countries like
Syria, Yemen, and Sudan. The LAF will continue to be on high
alert and will increase its ground presence in the area.
Graziano stressed in particular to need to control the
crossing points over the Litani River to prevent
rocket-making materials from entering the border zone and to
launch coordinated search operations for weapons and
ammunition in specific areas. LAF Commander General Sleiman
and General Matar agreed to conduct such missions in close

BEIRUT 00000913 002 OF 002


coordination with UNIFIL.


GHAJAR: CONTINUED STALEMATE ON SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Graziano reported progress in the Tripartite talks
held in Naqoura on demarcating the Blue Line. On Israeli
withdrawal from Ghajar, Graziano said that while both the IDF
and LAF remained committed to finding a compromise, the LAF
was still demanding a fixed timeframe while the IDF continued
to insist that the withdrawal date remain open-ended until a
permanent solution is found. UNIFIL soon will propose an
amended text proposing that the security arrangements for
Ghajar be put under a two-year UNIFIL mandate.
FELTMAN