APPROACHING DPKO ON UNIFIL SALUTE FOR HIZBALLAH

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 087070 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018 TAGS: UNSC PREL PTER LE IS SY SUBJECT: APPROACHING DPKO ON UNIFIL SALUTE FOR HIZBALLAH REMAINS AND PHOTO OF IMAD MUGHNIYAH Classified By: Classified by IO Acting Assistant Secretary Brian Hook for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3. ¶2. (C) Background. ISRAEL and Lebanon exchanged the mortal remains of two Israeli soldiers, abducted and killed by Hizballah and nearly 200 Lebanese and Palestine (many of whom had been terrorists) on July 17, as part of an agreement that also saw the return of five living Lebanese prisoners from Israel to Lebanon. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) assisted with transfer logistics and security at the Ras Naqoura border crossing at the request of the ICRC. After the transfer, the Lebanese draped the Lebanese and Palestinian coffins with flags, placing them on eight tractor trailers. Hizballah arranged for a motorcade from the border to a rally/memorial service in Beirut. Included on at least one of the trailers was a billboard-sized photo of Imad Mughniyah, the Hizballah terrorist leader killed on February 12, 2008 in Damascus. During this procession, a group of UNIFIL soldiers saluted the motorcade as it passed; an AP photo, disseminated widely, showed them saluting immediately in front of the Mughniyah billboard. When Embassy Beirut inquired about the incident on July 18, UNIFIL advised that the soldiers were carrying out their normal duties along the road at the time, and were not involved in the ceremonies. They reportedly stopped to salute on their own initiative in conformity with the custom of their army when flagged-draped mortal remains pass in procession. ¶3. (C) Action Request: USUN should approach the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) with the following objectives: -- confirm that DPKO,s understanding of the incident conforms with the account UNIFIL shared with Embassy Beirut and ask if there are any additional details, such as whether the UNIFIL soldiers realized whose image was being displayed on the poster; -- determine what steps DPKO and UNIFIL have taken subsequently, including whether they underscored for participating troop contingents not to render military courtesies, such as salutes, to Hizballah or other terrorist forces, and not to place themselves in a position where their actions could be exploited by Hizballah or other terrorist groups for propaganda purposes to imply their legitimacy. RICE