LEBANON: PRAISE FOR PRESIDENT'S "HISTORIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 000617 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, NEA/PPD ALSO FOR IO A/S BRIMMER P FOR DRUSSELL, RRANGASWAMY USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT DOD/OSD FOR FLOURNOY/KAHL/DALTON DRL/NESA FOR WHITMAN OVP FOR HMUSTAFA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: PRAISE FOR PRESIDENT'S "HISTORIC LANGUAGE" TO MUSLIM WORLD Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Emboffs heard from a number of Lebanese contacts, including Sunni and Shia Muslims and Christians, much praise for President Obama's June 4 speech to the Muslim world. Though many Lebanese were preoccupied with the parliamentary elections three days away, those who watched the speech told us they felt emotionally moved by Obama's words and called the remarks a "real reconciliation." One Member of Parliament suggested that Obama's speech would ultimately quell Hizballah's rhetoric, and that March 14 members should quote Obama with pride when countering Hizballah. Most contacts did not expect much of an impact on Lebanon's June 7 parliamentary elections, with one interlocutor deducing that President's words meant he will accept the results, even if Hizballah is victorious, as long as the election is peaceful. ¶2. (C) A few contacts were pleased with Obama's mention of Maronites in Lebanon, though many misinterpreted Obama's words as categorizing Maronites as a minority group. Criticism on Obama's remarks about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict centered on what one contact saw as an "imbalance" in language, in favor of Israel, and on the omission of details and a solution to the Palestinian refugees. One contact praised what he deemed a "departure from past U.S. policy" through the use of "historic" language. Comments by a group of influential persons hosted by the Ambassador in the late afternoon of June 4 (to be reported septel) were similar: general praise for the symbolism, some negative comments on the lack of more substance and a negative reaction to their perception that the President referred to Maronites as a minority that needed protection. End summary. GOOD GESTURES GET REWARDED; A REAL RECONCILIATION -------------- ¶3. (C) Lebanese contacts were effusive with their praise for President Barack Obama's June 4 speech to the Muslim world, in discussions held with EmbOffs immediately following the remarks. March 14 MP Samir Franjieh, a Maronite Christian, relayed that he was so moved by the speech he had tears in his eyes. Pleased that President Obama spoke "the language of the Orient," Franjieh suggested that Obama's speech would ultimately quell Hizballah's rhetoric, especially now that March 14 members should "no longer have fear in quoting Obama" when arguing against Hizballah. ¶4. (C) Former PM Najib Mikati, who is Sunni, said that this is the first time that an American President "touches on the hearts of the Arabs and Muslims." He added, "By nature we are an emotional people and if people meet us with a little gesture, we can respond with an abundance of good gestures." Obama's knowledge of Arab/Islamic history and his "self-criticism of U.S. policy" resonated with a retired Christian Lebanese Ambassador, who also believed that Obama related well to Islam. ¶5. (C) Nizar Zakka, SYG of the Union of Arab Informationand Communication Technology Associations, descrbed the speech as "very good and down to earth" and "a real reconciliation." He complimented the "basic language that any audience can understand." A Sunni Muslim, Zakka said President Obama's quoting from the Quran was "very emotional." A Sunni businessman from Beirut, Hani Nsouli, applauded the speech saying, "All of our leaders from (Sunni March 14 leader) Saad Hariri to (Hizballah SYG) Hassan Nasrallah appear like 'little kids' in comparison." ¶6. (C) Economic Advisor to Speaker Nabih Berri, Dr. Ghazi Wazni, said he believed the speech will be well-received in the Muslim world because it worked to "break the ice and create confidence by quoting the Quran and mentioning forgiveness as well as Muslims' contributions to ancient civilization." Wazni called the speech "positive" because BEIRUT 00000617 002 OF 003 Obama said that the Muslim world is not a terrorist world. It is clear the U.S. wants "dialogue, openness, and finding solutions to problems in partnership with other countries," he added. ¶7. (C) Dr. Yousef Khalil, from the Central Bank, said he liked that Obama talked about Islam as part of America, rather than treating Islam as a separate entity. Dr. Toufic Gaspard praised the title, "New Beginnings," saying that Obama has committed himself to reaching out. However, he warned, if Obama does not deliver, it will create a backlash in the Muslim world. IMPACT ON ELECTIONS? -------------- ¶8. (C) While he does not expect the speech will impact the Lebanese parliamentary elections, Wazni, who is Shia, said he appreciated that Obama spoke of respect for religious diversity, especially the Maronites in Lebanon. Khalil interpreted Obama's welcoming of peacefully-elected governments to mean the U.S. will accept the results of a peaceful election in Lebanon. He suspected this would reduce people's fears about a U.S. reaction to a Hizballah victory. The retired Ambassador took note of Obama's message that elections alone did not make a democracy, saying that this was important for the Lebanese to hear three days before they go to the polls. MUTED RESPONSE TO "MARONITES IN LEBANON" -------------- ¶9. (C) Harb relayed that Elie Khoury, of the online news outlet NowLebanon, confessed to him the previous day that a lobby had been working in Washington to insert "Maronites in Lebanon" into the speech. After the remarks, Harb guessed that this lobby would be thrilled at its inclusion, especially because Obama said "Maronites" rather than a making general statement on Christians. ¶10. (C) Separately, Zakka and American Chamber of Congress President Salim Zeeni, a Maronite, concluded that Obama was describing Maronites as minorities in the region, not only in Lebanon. (Note and comment: Lebanese Maronites are highly sensitive to any suggestion that they are dwindling in numbers and becoming a minority in Lebanon. Some Lebanese interpreted the speech to imply that the Maronites in Lebanon were a minority group because it was used in the same sentence as Copts in Egypt, who are clearly a minority group. While no formal census has been conducted since 1932, a recent study concluded that 28 percent of the population are Sunni, 28 percent are Shia, and 21.5 percent are Maronite. End note and comment.) BIAS TOWARD ISRAEL; NO SOLUTION FOR REFUGEES; "HISTORIC LANGUAGE" -------------- ¶11. (C) According to Ali Hamdan, who is Shia and senior advisor to Speaker Nabih Berri, Obama was not balanced when addressing the Israelis and Palestinians. He explained that Obama spoke of the Holocaust but failed to use the terms "occupation and suppression" of the Palestinians. (Note: Obama stated, "They endure the daily humiliations - large and small - that come with occupation." End note.) ¶12. (C) Expressing hope for Obama's determination to find a two-state solution, businessman Nsouli wondered if Obama's reference to Israel as a Jewish state could hinder this effort because he alienated Israeli Muslim and Christian citizens. Ziad al-Sayegh, Lebanese advisor to the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, criticized the speech for not addressing the question of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Khalil noted that Obama did not say "right of return" for any Palestinian refugees. Khalil thought Obama's language on stopping Israeli settlements was "intentionally unclear" because he is not "ready to engage" on this topic. BEIRUT 00000617 003 OF 003 ¶13. (C) Toufic Allouch, brother of Future Movement MP Mustapha Allouch, noted that the speech lacked specific details and deadlines on how to achieve between Israelis and Palestinians. He also questioned Obama's ability to pressure Israel, believing that Obama will ease any pressure when campaigning for re-election in 2011. He doubted if Obama had enough time between now and 2011 to accomplish anything. However, he said, Obama sounded "honest and genuine," adding that Muslims will determine whether or not to trust the President based on the results he achieves on the Israeli-Palestinian track. ¶14. (C) The more significant, "historic" aspects of the speech centered on what was omitted, Christian JOURNALIST Moufic Harb assessed. He noted that Obama said "Palestine," rather than "future Palestinian state." He also highlighted that Obama referred to Jerusalem as a city open to all three faiths, rather than what he deemed was past terminology, "a divided capital." According to Harb, Obama's speech differed from how the U.S. traditionally has perceived Islam; Obama put Islam on an equal level with Judaism and Christianity, he said. ¶15. (C) Wazni noted that Obama mentioned the "sufferings of the Palestinians" in what he viewed was a departure from previous U.S. rhetoric. He also pointed out that Obama refrained from calling Hamas a terrorist organization, but appreciated the message that Hamas' use of violence will not lead to a solution. COMMENT -------------- ¶16. (C) In typical Lebanese-centric fashion, many contacts were disappointed that the President did not mention Lebanon's elections three days away. They further listened to the speech with an ear towards what his remarks meant for Lebanon, including interpreting his remarks on a Palestinian state and his pronouncements on democracy for their implications here. End Comment. SISON