LEBANON: GAZA REACTIONS: HIZBALLAH MOST VOCAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 001806 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA ALSO FOR IO A/S HOOK, PDAS WARLICK P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/YERGER/MCDERMOTT E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS KPAL IS EG, LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: GAZA REACTIONS: HIZBALLAH MOST VOCAL REF: BEIRUT 1814 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The most vocal critic in Lebanon against Israeli action in Gaza, Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, blamed Arab states for "collaborating with Israel" and urged these states to stand up to Israel. He also called for demonstrations, most of which have been held without incident. President Michel Sleiman, with cabinet approval, agreed to attend an emergency Arab summit to address the issue. The Cabinet also approved on December 30 $1 million in relief to destitute Palestinians in Gaza and declared December 31 a national day of mourning in solidarity with Gaza. March 14 members also condemned Israeli action and organized a demonstration. Meanwhile, the "Dignity," a private boat carrying humanitarian aid, was reportedly prevented from reaching Gaza by an Israeli naval ship. The "Dignity" was damaged in the encounter and entered the port of Tyre in southern Lebanon, where it remains at this time. Among those on board were former U.S. Representative Cynthia McKinney. Separately, the Lebanese Armed Forces on December 25 discovered eight Katushya rockets in southern Lebanon. An Embassy contact interpreted this as a message from a Palestinian group, rather than a direct threat from Hizballah. End summary. NASRALLAH HARSH AGAINST EGYPTIANS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In a December 28 televised address, Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah implied that Arab states were collaborating with Israel in its raids on Gaza, singling out Egypt. Nasrallah called on Egypt to allow aid through the border crossing at Rafah, adding, "If you do not open the crossing, then you are partners in the crime." It is unclear what led to Nasrallah's decision to urge Egyptians to take to the streets over Gaza. He further urged all Arab states to protest the Israeli military strikes, pointing out that these states had the financial and political clout to put a halt to the raids. ¶3. (C) Stressing that the Palestinians in Gaza face a threat against the "fate of Palestine," and not only against Hamas, Nasrallah called on the Palestinians to unite in a "third intifada." (Comment: It struck us and many of our Lebanese interlocutors that Nasrallah's speech was not particularly inflammatory by local standards, nor did he call on Hizballah to take up arms against Israel. In the days since the Gaza crisis began, Hizballah's overt actions have been limited to rhetoric and the mobilization of demonstrators. End comment.) ¶4. (SBU) Meanwhile, Free Patriotic Movement leader and Hizballah ally Michel Aoun echoed Nasrallah by criticizing Arab states and accusing them of "repeating the scenario of the July 2006 war." He further condemned the "barbaric Israeli aggression." SLEIMAN TO ATTEND ARAB SUMMIT; HUMANITARIAN AID, URGING CALM IN THE CAMPS -------------- ¶5. (C) In response to a proposed emergency Arab summit to address Gaza, President Michel Sleiman expressed regret at the absence of Arab solidarity and said he would attend the summit. He presided over a previously scheduled cabinet session on December 30 during which the cabinet agreed to send a delegation to the summit. The Cabinet spokesman, Information Minister Tariq Mitri called for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire and lifting of the blockages imposed on Gaza" and expressed hope that the Arab Summit conference would be the "summit of Arab solidarity." The cabinet also reportedly discussed how to send humanitarian aid to Gaza and agreed to offer $1 million in aid. BEIRUT 00001806 002 OF 003 ¶6. (C) Earlier, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora had convened a meeting on December 28 to discuss the logistical challenge to sending humanitarian aid. Palestinian representatives, including PLO Ambassador to Lebanon Abbas Zaki and Hamas representative in Lebanon Oussama Hamdan, and a number of Lebanese ministers formed a joint working committee to organize the provision of assistance. According to presidential advisor Nazem Khoury, President Sleiman also met with Palestinian representatives on December 29 (the Muslim New Year Al Hejra holiday),urging them to help maintain calm in the Palestinian camps in Lebanon. MARCH 14 CALLS FOR CEASEFIRE, TRIES NOT TO BE OUTDONE BY HIZBALLAH -------------- ¶7. (C) The March 14 alliance issued a statement on December 27 that called for Arab and international action to deter Israel and for Palestinian unity. Condemning the raids, March 14 member and MP Boutros Harb said Israel's action was "almost akin to genocide." March 14 Secretary General Fares Suaid told EmbOff that his alliance had organized its own demonstration on December 28, explaining that March 14 would not allow itself to be outshone by Hizballah on this issue. ¶8. (C) Suaid also downplayed the possibility that Hizballah would pursue military actions in southern Lebanon, on the grounds that Israel's actions were actually furthering Hizballah's political goals. However, Suaid posited that Nasrallah could "yield to Iranian pressure to open the southern front." SUNNI MUFTIS WARN AGAINST INTRA-ARAB RIFTS -------------- ¶9. (C) Following a meeting of the Shari'a Council on December 28, Lebanon's Sunni muftis issued a statement responding to Nasrallah's criticism against Arab states, warning against inciting Arabs against Arabs. (Comment: Reportedly, the Sunni muftis in Lebanon perceive Hamas to be Iranian-influenced and so are less sympathetic than others in the region to the situation in Gaza. End comment.) PROTESTS SMALL IN NATURE, LIKELY TO STRENGTHEN OVER TIME -------------- ¶10. (U) A series of demonstrations, most of them peaceful, have been organized by various groups since December 27 (reftel). The December 27 protests were primarily staged in front of the Egyptian Embassy, as well as in the Hizballah stronghold Dahiyeh and in front of the UN Economic and Social Cooperation for Western Asia (ESCWA) offices in downtown Beirut. ¶11. (U) On December 28, protests continued in front of ESCWA, attended mostly by Palestinians, and in front of the Egyptian Embassy, organized by the Communist Party. The Internal Security Forces (ISF) riot police resorted to using water cannons and tear gas in front of the Egyptian Embassy to disperse the crowd when the participants attempted to move police barricades. There were reported injuries among both ISF and demonstrators. ¶12. (U) In addition to those in Beirut, demonstrations have occurred in Tripoli, Sidon, the Bekaa, and Palestinian camps throughout Lebanon, and another demonstration is scheduled for December 31 in downtown Beirut in front of the Arab League offices. SHIP CARRYING AID CLASHED WITH ISRAELIS, NOW DOCKED IN LEBANON -------------- ¶13. (SBU) On December 30, the "Dignity," a vessel contracted by the organization "Free Gaza Movement" was at sea heading to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid when it made physical BEIRUT 00001806 003 OF 003 contact with an Israeli naval ship. The boat was en route to Gaza from Cyprus. The boat proceeded to the Lebanese southern port of Tyre, where it will undergo repairs. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF),with UNIFIL assistance were on hand to assist the "Dignity." Hizballah also reportedly met the boat at the port. At least one AmCit, former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, is on board. (Consular Chief spoke with Ms. McKinney in Tyre; she requested no assistance.) KATUSHYA ROCKETS FOUND AIMED AT ISRAEL -------------- ¶14. (SBU) On December 25, the LAF discovered eight Katushya rockets in Naqoura in southern Lebanon. The rockets were rigged with timers, purportedly set to go off several hours from the time they were found. There has been no claim of responsibility. According to Timor Goksel, former UNIFIL spokesman, the short-range rockets were an older model, 30 or 40 years old. He dismissed the likelihood that the rockets belong to Hizballah. Goksel speculated that the rockets could have been a "message of solidarity" to the Palestinians in Gaza. Presidential aide Nazem Khoury also doubted that Hizballah was behind the incident, telling us this was not "Hizballah's style." COMMENT -------------- 15.(C) Hizballah has taken advantage of recent events in Gaza to organize demonstrations, mobilize protesters, and call for Arab action, but the rhetoric used thus far has been relatively non-inflammatory. We will continue to monitor developments closely. End Comment. SISON