FRENCH EFFORTS TO CALM LEBANESE-ISRAELI BORDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001010

SIPDIS
NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH EFFORTS TO CALM LEBANESE-ISRAELI BORDER
TENSIONS

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Kathleen H. Allegrone, for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The French believe their quick intervention
with Hizballah and with Lebanese authorities, following
back-to-back border incidents in southern Lebanon in July,
has helped to calm the situation. The incidents and their
Ambassador's meetings have also reinforced for them the
importance of UNIFIL working in lock step with Lebanese Armed
Forces in any intervention, to avoid misunderstandings.
Hizballah spokesman Musawi expressed pessimism about the
prospects for Lebanese government formation, blaming outside
parties who are opposed to what he called "creative"
formulas. The French also asked the Israelis to react to
recent developments in southern Lebanon with caution and
moderation. END SUMMARY.


2. (C/NF) Reading from French reporting cables, Elysee
acting Middle East advisor Damien Loras provided on July 24
the following readout of French efforts to calm the border
situation. French Ambassador to Lebanon Parrant called on
Hizballah spokesman Musawi to register strong misgivings
about the handling of arms discovered in Kherbet Salm and
reaction to a new Israeli observation post (Far Sheba). He
stressed that the weapons cache and Hizballah's obstruction
of UNIFIL efforts to deal with it were both a violation of
UNSCR 1701. The French rejected Musawi's story that the
weapons found at Kherbet Salm pre-dated the fighting and
truce of 2006. They also rejected Hizballah allegations that
UNIFIL action had been uncoordinated with the Lebanese Armed
Forces (LAF),pointing out that UNIFIL had delayed action
from July 14 to August 18 in order to ensure LAF
participation in the action.


3. (C/NF) The Ambassador acknowledged that setting up the
Israeli observation post might have been inappropriate but
did not violate 1701; however, Hizballah should have
exercised responsibility and prevented the civilian
population from crossing the blue line, which was a
violation. On Lebanese politics in general, Musawi had been
pessimistic about forming the new government, claiming that
regional parties were opposed to creative formulas. He told
the Ambassador that Hizballah is open to a number of
formulations (15 majority, 10 opposition and 5 to be chosen
by the President or 14-10-6 or 13-10-7),any of which would
preclude an absolute majority.


4. (C) In a separate conversation with the Ambassador,
Lebanese leader Nabih Berri (and Amal party chief) agreed
that the weapons found in Kerbet Selm were new and
constituted a violation. Furthermore, Berri said he had
asked the LAF to be more active working with UNIFIL. On the
other hand, Berri argued that the civilian protest against
the Israeli outpost was spontaneous. Amal had sent a party
rep to the incident and followed up to ensure that there will
be no further demonstrations.

5. (C) The French Ambassador thinks Hizballah took an
aggressive stance because it was caught red-handed with new
weapons. He strongly believes that UNIFIL and the LAF need
to be linked up earlier in future operations to ensure the
legitimacy of UNIFIL. He planned to call on newly elected
Saad Hariri July 23 to follow up.


6. (C) Acting MFA Middle East Director Jean-Christophe
Paucelle told us in a separate conversation that the French
asked the Israelis to react to recent developments in
southern Lebanon with caution and moderation. In delivering
his demarche, the French Ambassador in Tel Aviv expressed
sympathy for the Israeli interpretation of events: "We didn't
exactly say we share the Israeli view, but we did tell them
that we believe Hizbollah violated Resolution 1701."
PEKALA