LEBANON: UNIFIL COMMANDER WITH CODEL CARNAHAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000439

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO/ A A/S WARLICK
PM FOR A A/S RUGGIERO
P FOR DRUSSELL
STATE PASS TO OVP HMUSTAFA
USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER
DOD/OSD FOR FLOURNOY, KAHL, AND DALTON
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE IS
SUBJECT: LEBANON: UNIFIL COMMANDER WITH CODEL CARNAHAN
DISCUSSES OVERFLIGHTS, GHAJAR

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d)

Summary
--------------
1.(C) General Claudio Graziano, Force Commander for UN
Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) noted a general calm in the
south during his April 9 presentation to visiting
Congressional members Representative Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and
Judge Debra Carnahan, Representative Mazie Hirono (D-HI),
Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA),Representative Ben
Chandler (D-KY),and Representative Diane Watson (D-CA).
Graziano said the ongoing Israeli overflights in Lebanese
airspace are technically an "act of war," and a "humiliation"
to the Lebanese government and UNIFIL. He also commented
that action must be taken on Israeli withdrawal from northern
Ghajar before the June 7 parliamentary elections or the
current UNIFIL proposal on Ghajar would no longer be valid
with a new Lebanese government.


2. (C) Graziano recounted that tensions were high during the
2008 Gaza conflict, but his units were effective in
containing an outbreak of violence by expanding patrols and
interdicting rockets poised to fire into Israel. He assessed
UNIFIL's ongoing critical missions are to prevent further
rocket launches from UNIFIL's area of operation (AO),preven
smuggled weapons from entering the AO, work thrugh the
Tripartite (Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)-Israeli Defense
Forces (IDF)- UNIFIL) discussions to reduce Israeli
overflights, and conclude an agreement to withdraw IDF from
northern Ghajar. End summary.


3. (SBU) UNIFIL Force Commander General Claudio Graziano
welcomed the visiting congressional delegation (Codel) at his
Beirut HQ April 9. Members of the Codel included:
Representative Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and Judge Debra Carnahan,
Representative Mazie Hirono (D-HI),Representative Jim
McDermott (D-WA),Representative Ben Chandler (D-KY),
Representative Diane Watson (D-CA),Director of
Interparliamentary Affairs Kay King, House Foreign Affairs
Committee (HFAC) Professional Staff Member John Lis, HFAC
Professional Staff Member David Beraka, and USAF Colonel Joey
Booher. The Ambassador was accompanied by Poloffs.

ISRAELI OVERFLIGHTS
--------------


4. (C) Graziano told the Codel that Israeli overflights of
Lebanese airspace could be considered an "act of war." They
"humiliate" the Lebanese government and UNIFIL, he assessed.
He conceded that the recent reduction in the number of
overflights was positive, but more were necessary. The issue
of overflights is a regular agenda item during monthly
Tripartite discussions between UNIFIL, the IDF and LAF, he
noted.

GHAJAR: LITTLE TIME REMAINS
--------------


5. (C) In Graziano's overview of UNIFIL's proposal for IDF
withdrawal from northern Ghajar, he stated that while his
Israeli Defense Force contacts remained open to moving
forward on the proposal as of last week, there was little
time remaining to complete an agreement before a new Lebanese
government was elected. He said after the June 7
parliamentary elections in Lebanon, the new government would
have to reconsider the UNIFIL proposal. Graziano said he
would meet new Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman the
week of April 13 in ISRAEL to discuss Ghajar, as well as
other ongoing UNIFIL issues. (Note: We believe this will be
in conjunction with a visit by UN Special Coordinator for
Lebanon (UNSCOL) Michael Williams. End Note). He
emphasized, however, that if UNIFIL could not show progress
on an issue like Ghajar, then support for his UNIFIL mission
could wane by 2010, given the need for UNIFIL troop
contributing nations to focus on competing requirements in

BEIRUT 00000439 002.2 OF 002


Afghanistan and elsewhere.

CRITICAL MISSIONS CONTINUE
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6. (C) Interdicting weapons smuggling into the UNIFIL AO
south of the Litani River continues to be a critical mission
for UNIFIL, Graziano declared. He said, however, UNIFIL
could, under the existing, agreed-upon rules of engagement,
not search for weapons in homes or buildings unless there was
evidence or cause to believe weapons would be found.
Graziano acknowledged reports that Hizballah was more heavily
armed than before the 2006 war, but he insisted his units
have not seen evidence of the reported weapons smuggling.


7. (C) Graziano said several rockets found ready to launch
last February could have escalated the conflict. However,
UNIFIL's success in interdicting these weapons was a positive
indication of good patrolling and coordination with the LAF.
Earlier, Graziano described the LAF as an "experienced army"
with some organizational and structural problems and lacking
in equipment. (Note: The LAF has a limited budget for
operations, which restricts its ability to take on more
substantial roles with UNIFIL. It also has limited special
forces and quick reaction capabilities, both of which are
emphasized in U.S.-LAF training initiatives. End Note.)

HIZBALLAH'S WEAPONS
--------------


8. (C) Graziano noted that, in Lebanese eyes, many compared
the presence of the Hizballah "resistance" forces to the
French Resistance during World War II when asked by Rep.
Carnahan about disarming Hizballah. Graziano emphasized an
integration of Hizballah into the LAF required a political
decision, and was a complex issue for the Lebanese
government. Graziano maintained that current problems
between the Palestinians and Israelis only exacerbated
instability in Lebanon. He also reiterated that UNIFIL's
mission, related to unrest in the Palestinian camps, was only
in "tactical cooperation" with the LAF.


9. (U) Codel Carnahan cleared this message.
SISON