ISRAELI GENERAL DISCUSSES UNIFIL IN NEW YORK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000502 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2012 TAGS: PREL UNSC IS SY LE SUBJECT: ISRAELI GENERAL DISCUSSES UNIFIL IN NEW YORK REF: USUN 175 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Alejandro Wolff for reasons 1.4 (b) an d (d) ¶1. (C) Israeli Brigadier General Udi Dekel visited New York June 13-20 to share with P-5 delegations and the UN secretariat an updated Israeli assessment of Hizballah SIPDIS activities in the UNIFIL area of operations (AO). While commending UNIFIL's valuable role in disrupting Hizballah's freedom of movement in the south, Dekel said ISRAEL believes that arms transfers to Hizballah in the AO have increased, and attributed this conclusion to the reduction in LAF forces along the eastern border and the opening of new routes along the northern border. The French and the UN stated disagreement with this assessment, saying they had no evidence of an increase in rearmament. Although Dekel expressed satisfaction with IDF-UNIFIL-LAF coordination, he said the LAF often tips off Hizballah when the IDF passes information about the location of weapons caches, and "turns the other way" at LAF checkpoints along the Litani river. Dekel expressed frustration with the LAF and UNIFIL for refusing to search homes without a court order. He shared Israel's assessment that the GOL is unable to ask for an expansion of the UNIFIL mandate, either to the border or north of the Litani river. Dekel also observed that the current levels of mistrust and rumor mongering in the region are very high which contributes to instability and the danger of miscalculation. In bilateral discussions with USUN, Dekel recommended exploration of the idea of what he called UNIFIL "areas of interest" along the Litani river and eastern border. He also reported progress on demarcation of the Blue Line and recommended such efforts be continued as a confidence-building measure. ¶2. (C) Following up on a March 2007 briefing to Council delegations by IDF Brigadier General Baidatz (reftel),BG Dekel traveled to New York June 13-20 to discuss current Israeli views about UNIFIL. He met with P-5 delegations June 14, the UN's department of peacekeeping operations June 14, and Ambassador Wolff June 15. The Israeli mission hosted a dinner for him June 15 that was attended by the head of UNIFIL's Strategic Military Cell, French General Neveux. Dekel also attended the Council's monthly Middle East briefing June 20. ¶3. (C) During a briefing to P-5 experts June 14, Dekel said arms continue to be transferred from Syria to Lebanon and then south of the Litani river into UNIFIL's AO. He said the weapons are short-, medium-, and long-range missiles sourced to Iran and "other countries." He reported that following Baidatz's briefing in March, the border crossing routes had been changed, including the introduction of routes across the northern border. He also said that LAF operations in Beirut and in the Palestinian camps had led to a reduction in the deployment of forces along the border. These two factors contributed to an increase in arms transfers. ¶4. (C) Dekel said the IDF is satisfied with its coordination with the LAF via UNIFIL. Although the Israelis would prefer direct contact with the LAF, they recognize that the Lebanese for political reasons prefer UNIFIL as an intermediary. He said UNIFIL is unable to prevent weapons from being transferred into its AO because the LAF "turns the other way" at the crossing points along the Litani river. He also said that the LAF tips off Hizballah when UNIFIL is prepared to act on IDF information about weapons caches. Dekel expressed frustration with the LAF and UNIFIL for their reluctance to search houses in urban areas. He said the LAF insists on a court order which is impossible to obtain given the Lebanese political stalemate. ¶5. (C) The French expert disputed Dekel's criticism of UNIFIL, arguing they had no evidence of increased arms transfers. The French believe UNIFIL is acting vigorously in its AO, fostering a "strategic alliance" between UNIFIL and the LAF and creating a significant shift in the environment that contributes to Israeli security. The French, however, agree that Hizballah remains active in the south and is seeking to rebuild its position. It was reported to USUN that DPKO and SMC reacted similarly in their meeting with Dekel. ¶6. (C) Dekel said ISRAEL values the role of UNIFIL, which has significantly disrupted Hizballah's freedom of movement (a point he later repeated to Ambassador Wolff). He used the metaphor of Hizballah being forced to move inside from outdoors. Dekel also said that ISRAEL recognizes that given the political stalemate in Lebanon the GOL is currently unable to seek an expansion of the UNIFIL mandate. ¶7. (C) In a separate conversation with USUN, Dekel suggested USUN NEW Y 00000502 002 OF 002 that exploration of the prospect of what he called UNIFIL "areas of interest," which he defined as the area north of the Litani river and along the eastern border. He noted that activities in these areas have an impact on UNIFIL's AO. He welcomed the prospect of increased assistance to the LAF, which he said would respond to these concerns. Dekel also reported that the IDF is working with UNIFIL and the LAF to demarcate the Blue Line, beginning in less controversial areas to the west, and recommended this effort be encouraged as a confidence-building measure. He also said ISRAEL is pleased with the professional commitment of the western contributors to UNIFIL (chiefly France and Italy),and specifically praised the Italian Force Commander Graziano. He said the Indonesian contingent was less active. ¶8. (C) Finally, Dekel shared the IDF's assessment of the political mood in the region, which he characterized as fraught with tension and distrust. He said that many are peddling the rumor that this summer the United States will attack Iran while ISRAEL attacks Syria. In this environment, coupled with the crisis among the Palestinians, the risk of miscalculation is high. WOLFF