LEBANON: SLEIMAN UNDER PRESSURE ON GAZA;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000077

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: SLEIMAN UNDER PRESSURE ON GAZA;
PALESTINIAN CAMPS CONTAINED, SAYS MINISTER HARIRI

Classified By: Charge William Grant for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
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1. (C) In a January 16 meeting with Charge, Minister of
Education and Sidon native Bahia Hariri described the
situation in the southern Palestinian camp of Ain el-Hilweh
as tense, but "contained" as the Gaza crisis continues. She
said the strong stance in support of Gaza by President Michel
Sleiman and other Lebanese leaders had helped quiet the
situation in the camps. However, Hariri noted the changing
character of more recent Gaza-related protests and comments
by opposition media that seemed to be pushing Sleiman to take
a more vocal role in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.
Other contacts echoed this, citing an aggressive campaign on
the part of the opposition to pressure Sleiman to attend the
Arab meetyQI7Uci
*oQ#y since fighting erupted in Gaza.
Expressing concern that schools could become centers of
anger, Hariri said she encouraged activities to enable to
student to express their emotion in non-violent ways. (Note:
Students from Sidon holding a mock UN Security Council
meeting at a Hariri-foundation school issued a resolution
calling for a cease fire and lifting of the blockade. with
the U.S. representative confirming the "necessity of the
cease-fire and withdrawal of Israeli forces of Gaza. End
note.)


4. (C) Hariri opined that the meeting between Arab League
leaders in Doha January 17 would not change the situation in
Gaza. Hariri said President Sleiman and other Lebanese
leaders' strong stands against the situation in Gaza had
helped keep the camps relatively quiet. However, she opined
that the demonstrations throughout Lebanon were beginning to
change character. Protests that started as mainly
student-based are now becoming political; the opposition
media and demonstrators, such as those near the U.S. Embassy
on January 14, are placing pressure on Sleiman to take a
stronger stance on Gaza.

PREVIOUS WORK PAYING OFF
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5. (C) Hariri told charge that three years ago, she decided
to work to improve the relations between Lebanese in Sidon
and Palestinians in Ain el-Hilweh. She meets monthly with
Palestinian factions of Ain el-Hilweh, except Ahmed Jibril's
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP-GC).
However, PFLP-GC sends representatives to Hariri's meetings.
Hariri said her ties into the camps go deeper than just
relations with leaders, to second and third-level actors also.


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6. (C) After the 2007 fighting in the Nahr el-Barid
Palestinian camp between Lebanese Armed Forces and Fatah
al-Islam, Hariri started the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue in
Sidon, a 65-member group elected at the grass-roots level to
run civic activities and to improve relations between the
camp and the city. Hamas is part of the group, as are some
Islamists, she said. After fighting erupted in Gaza, Hariri
said she held meetings with Fatah and Hamas together, in
order to prevent the fractures among the Palestinians in the
West Bank and Gaza from transferring into the camps in
Lebanon. Hariri described a "solidarity" rally for Gaza held
in Ain el-Hilweh that included both Fatah and Hamas
supporters as evidence of the success of her efforts.

CONCERN ABOUT ROCKET ATTACKS
AGAINST ISRAEL
--------------


7. (C) Hariri expressed fear about the two recent episodes of
rockets being fired from Lebanon to Israel. According to
Hariri, the "party in charge" in the south is well known, a
clear reference to Hizballah, even if they may have "given
the rockets to someone else" to launch. Hariri supported LAF
and UNIFIL efforts and said the GOL "is trying" to maintain
control of its territory.

COMMENT
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8. (C) Palestinian camps in Lebanon have been calm during the
Gaza crisis. We believe the efforts among Sunni Lebanese and
Palestinians by the well-connected Minister Hariri have
contributed to that.


9. (C) In addition to Hariri, other contacts have commented
on the mounting pressure on President Sleiman to go to Doha
to demonstrate Lebanon's support for the Palestinians in
Gaza. Protesters (including a group near the U.S. Embassy on
January 14) criticized Sleiman for being weak and called for
a "strong" president like his Syrian-picked predecessor,
Emile Lahoud. Lahoud himself told Hizballah's al-Manar TV
that it was "shameful" for Lebanon to be neutral, saying also
that Qatar had played a major role in resolving Lebanon's
political standoff, leading to the election of Sleiman. March
14 contacts tells us the opposition jumped on the bandwagon
as well, with Nasrallah aide Hussein Khalil and Amal MP
Hassan Khahil meeting with Sleiman at Baabda Palace on
January 14, and Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh reportedly
calling him. We suspect their motives had more to do with
boosting the pro-Iranian Arab camp at the expense of
pro-western moderates Egypt and Saudi Arabia, who did go to
Doha. As usual, it appears Sleiman wanted to avoid appearing
too biased toward one side (in this case, too pro-March 14),
and went to Doha to participate in "consultations" on Gaza.
End comment.
GRANT