Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TELAVIV508
2007-02-16 10:21:00
SECRET
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
DEMARCHE ON ISRAEL-LEBANON BORDER INCIDENT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0012 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTV #0508 0471021 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 161021Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9449 INFO RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 1673 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 9316 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 9794 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 4824
S E C R E T TEL AVIV 000508
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2017
TAGS: PBTS PREL KPKO LE IS
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON ISRAEL-LEBANON BORDER INCIDENT
REF: STATE 18502
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, Reason 1.4 (b) (d)
S E C R E T TEL AVIV 000508
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2017
TAGS: PBTS PREL KPKO LE IS
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON ISRAEL-LEBANON BORDER INCIDENT
REF: STATE 18502
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, Reason 1.4 (b) (d)
1. (S) Ambassador, accompanied by PolCouns and Assistant
Air Attache, called on MOD Pol-Mil Director Amos Gilad
February 15 to deliver reftel demarche (DATT separately
demarched IDF Head of Strategic Planning and International
Cooperation Division BG Udi Dekel). Ambassador noted that
after reviewing the imagery, we had determined that some of
the clearing operation carried out by the IDF the night of
February 7 had in fact been on the Lebanese side of the Blue
Line. The Ambassador then showed Gilad the imagery,
including the cleared area and with the Blue Line delineated,
noting that he was authorized to show Gilad the imagery but
not to leave it with him. The Ambassador stressed that our
intent was not to lay blame but to underscore the importance
of Israel continuing to cooperate as closely as possible with
UNIFIL and the LAF.
2. (S) Gilad thanked the Ambassador, and without challenging
the imagery, he noted that the IDF had believed they were
operating within the Blue Line. He asked that the imagery be
shared in intelligence channels so that the Israelis could
examine it carefully. Gilad added that he would like to show
the imagery to newly sworn-in IDF Chief of General Staff
Ashkenazi. MOD COS BG Mike Herzog, who joined the meeting in
progress, said part of the problem was that the border was
not demarcated in that area, and he observed that demarcation
could help prevent future incidents.
3. (S) Responding to the Ambassador's political message
about UNIFIL and the LAF, Gilad said the IDF's February 12
meeting with the LAF and UNIFIL had gone very well, adding
that they had agreed to continue to meet. Gilad assured the
Ambassador that Israel had not intended to provoke the
Lebanese. Gilad praised Prime Minister Siniora as "very
courageous," adding that after Hizballah's failure to bring
down the Siniora government, the Syrians "want to eat him
alive."
********************************************* ********************
Visit EMBASSY Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
JONES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2017
TAGS: PBTS PREL KPKO LE IS
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON ISRAEL-LEBANON BORDER INCIDENT
REF: STATE 18502
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, Reason 1.4 (b) (d)
1. (S) Ambassador, accompanied by PolCouns and Assistant
Air Attache, called on MOD Pol-Mil Director Amos Gilad
February 15 to deliver reftel demarche (DATT separately
demarched IDF Head of Strategic Planning and International
Cooperation Division BG Udi Dekel). Ambassador noted that
after reviewing the imagery, we had determined that some of
the clearing operation carried out by the IDF the night of
February 7 had in fact been on the Lebanese side of the Blue
Line. The Ambassador then showed Gilad the imagery,
including the cleared area and with the Blue Line delineated,
noting that he was authorized to show Gilad the imagery but
not to leave it with him. The Ambassador stressed that our
intent was not to lay blame but to underscore the importance
of Israel continuing to cooperate as closely as possible with
UNIFIL and the LAF.
2. (S) Gilad thanked the Ambassador, and without challenging
the imagery, he noted that the IDF had believed they were
operating within the Blue Line. He asked that the imagery be
shared in intelligence channels so that the Israelis could
examine it carefully. Gilad added that he would like to show
the imagery to newly sworn-in IDF Chief of General Staff
Ashkenazi. MOD COS BG Mike Herzog, who joined the meeting in
progress, said part of the problem was that the border was
not demarcated in that area, and he observed that demarcation
could help prevent future incidents.
3. (S) Responding to the Ambassador's political message
about UNIFIL and the LAF, Gilad said the IDF's February 12
meeting with the LAF and UNIFIL had gone very well, adding
that they had agreed to continue to meet. Gilad assured the
Ambassador that Israel had not intended to provoke the
Lebanese. Gilad praised Prime Minister Siniora as "very
courageous," adding that after Hizballah's failure to bring
down the Siniora government, the Syrians "want to eat him
alive."
********************************************* ********************
Visit EMBASSY Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
JONES