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