JEZZINE: LOOKING FOR NORMALITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 004484

PARIS FOR LEAF
LONDON FOR SUTPHIN
NICOSIA FOR ILMG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/09
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ECON EAID SY IS LE
SUBJECT: JEZZINE: LOOKING FOR NORMALITY

CLASSIFIED BY AMB. DAVID SATTERFIELD. REASON: 1.5 (B, D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: EMBASSY STAFF VISITED THE SOUTHERN
CITY OF JEZZINE RECENTLY, FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE
WITHDRAWAL OF THE SOUTH LEBANON ARMY (SLA). INITIAL
FEAR AMONG RESIDENTS ABOUT SAFETY HAVE ABATED.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ACTIVITY IS INCREASING MODESTLY,
BUT HAS NOT REPLACED THE ECONOMIC LOSS FROM THE
SLA'S PULLOUT, WHICH ENDED MILITIA SPENDING ON LOCAL
GOODS AS WELL AS PAYMENTS TO LOCAL FIGHTERS AND
WIDOWS, AND SEVERED TRADE LINKS TO THE SECURITY
ZONE. GOL RECONSTRUCTION AND ASSISTANCE ARE
VIRTUALLY NON-EXISTENT, AND SO IS THE PRESENCE OF
THE STATE. FOLLOWING INITIAL VISITS BY TOP
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THE REGION HAS SEEN LITTLE
FOLLOW-UP WORK BY SERVICE MINISTRIES AND HAS
SUFFERED A VIRTUAL BLOCKADE BY ARMY CHECKPOINTS SET
UP OUTSIDE THE CITY (WHERE THE ARMY IS ABSENT),
MAKING MOVEMENT FOR MOST PEOPLE IMPRACTICAL.
CRITICS SEE A DELIBERATE SYRIAN/LEBANESE EFFORT TO
TREAT JEZZINE AS ABNORMAL, IN ORDER TO DISCOURAGE
FURTHER POLITICALLY EMBARRASSING UNILATERAL
WITHDRAWALS BY ISRAEL. WHATEVER THE MOTIVE, THE
PEOPLE OF JEZZINE FEEL ISOLATED. THE CONVICTION OF
NEARLY 200 SLA MEMBERS FROM JEZZINE ACCENTUATES THIS
MOOD, ALTHOUGH THE JUDICIAL PROCESS HAS BEEN
TRANSPARENT AND AVERAGE ONE YEAR SENTENCES MODEST.


2. (C) JEZZINE'S FUTURE MAY LIE IN TOURISM, ITS
TRADITIONAL REVENUE SOURCE. UNTIL THE CHECKPOINTS
ARE LIFTED, JEZZINE WILL REMAIN CUT OFF FROM ITS OLD
MARKETS, REVENUE SOURCES AND ECONOMIC NETWORK IN THE
ISRAELI-OCCUPIED SECURITY ZONE BUT NOT YET CONNECTED
TO LEBANON'S NATIONAL ECONOMY AND CERTAINLY UNABLE
TO DRAW TOURISTS. AGRICULTURAL REVENUE ALONE WILL
NOT REVITALIZE THE REGION OR KEEP ITS YOUNG PEOPLE
FROM MOVING AWAY. ONE BRIGHT SPOT IS THE $500,000
USAID PROGRAM FOR THE REGION. U.S. PROJECTS HAVE
BOOSTED THE MORALE OF VILLAGE RESIDENTS, RESULTING
IN CROSS-CONFESSIONAL COOPERATION AMONG THEM INSTEAD
OF FIGHTING OVER PROJECT FUNDING FOR THEIR OWN
INTERESTS. END SUMMARY.

LUNCH WITH NOTABLES: THE PARTY LINE


3. (C) THE PARTY LINE BY OFFICIALDOM IN JEZZINE IS
DEFINITELY TO ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE. WE HEARD AN
UPBEAT ASSESSMENT OVER LUNCH HOSTED BY JEZZINE
MARONITE MP SAMIR AZAR (A CLOSE ALLY OF AMAL
MOVEMENT) AND LOCAL NOTABLES, INCLUDING THE POLICE
COMMANDER. AZAR AND HIS GUESTS EXPRESSED CAUTIOUS
OPTIMISM ABOUT THE FUTURE OF JEZZINE FREE OF THE SLA
PRESENCE. THE SECURITY SITUATION WAS JUDGED GOOD,
DESPITE THE ABSENCE OF THE ARMY, BECAUSE IT HINGED
ON A POLITICAL CONSENSUS BY ALL PARTIES THAT JEZZINE
SHOULD NOT BE DESTABILIZED. GUESTS ECHOED
DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE LACK OF EU ACTION IN LOCAL
DEVELOPMENT AND RECONSTRUCTION BUT PRAISED USAID FOR
DELIVERING PRACTICAL PROGRAMS SPEEDILY. AZAR AND
HIS COLLEAGUES EXPRESSED PLEASURE WITH THE GOL'S
RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS IN JEZZINE. SO FAR,
RENOVATION HAS BEGUN ON THE HOSPITAL AND MAIN
GOVERNMENT BUILDING (SERAIL),AND FUNDS WERE
RELEASED RECENTLY FOR ROAD ASPHALT.

AND THE REAL MOOD


4. (C) BUT IN A PRIVATE WALK IN THE GARDEN, AZAR
ADMITTED THE NEED FOR MORE GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT.
THE AMAL-CONTROLLED, BUT STATE-FUNDED COUNCIL FOR
THE SOUTH HAD DISPERSED ONLY LIMITED FUNDS FOR HOUSE
RECONSTRUCTION IN THE JEZZINE POCKET -- BUT WAS SO
STINGY TOWARD CHRISTIAN JEZZINE THAT THE PERCEPTION
OF THE COUNCIL AS A SHI'A SLUSH FUND WAS ONLY
REINFORCED. PRESIDENT LAHOUD, PRIME MINISTER HOSS,
AND MOST CABINET MINISTERS VISITED JEZZINE AFTER THE
PULLOUT, TO JOIN IN THE FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE; BUT NOT
ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A SERVICE MINISTRY HAS
RETURNED, AZAR COMPLAINED. BUREAUCRATIC DELAYS
BLOCKED PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT AS WELL; FOR
EXAMPLE, ONE NATIONAL BANK PLANNED TO OPEN A BRANCH
IN JEZZINE, BUT HAS FAILED TO OBTAIN A PERMIT FROM
THE GOVERNMENT -- OSTENSIBLY BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT
WANTS TO HOLD ACTIVITY UNTIL A MASTER PLAN IS IN
PLACE. AZAR AND OTHERS SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE
APPROACH -- AND HAVE CONTRIBUTED IDEAS -- BUT WISH
MORE HAD BEEN DONE TO ENCOURAGE THE CITIZENRY IN THE
MEANTIME.


5. (C) THE LOCAL ISF COMMANDER TOLD US THAT HIS JOB
IS DIFFICULT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. FIRST, HE IS
WOEFULLY UNDERSTAFFED AND HAS FEW RESOURCES. HE HAS
ONLY ONE CAR AT HIS DISPOSAL FOR A RUGGED, RURAL
AREA AND 33 MEN UNDER HIS COMMAND. THE AVERAGE AGE
OF THE MEN IS 55 TO 60. THE ISF USES FIVE-MAN
PATROLS IN JEZZINE AND FIVE MEN IN NEARBY SUPPORT
ARRAY. THE COMMANDER NOTED THAT HIS APPOINTMENT TO
THE JEZZINE AREA IS ACTUALLY A VIOLATION OF THE LAW
BECAUSE HE IS AN AREA NATIVE. THIS POINT LEADS TO
OTHER DIFFICULTIES AS HE SEEKS TO MAINTAIN LAW AND
ORDER IN A REGION THAT FELL INTO BENIGN NEGLECT OF
THE LAW DURING THE OCCUPATION. HE IS FORCED TO
INTERVENE IN PETTY DISPUTES INVOLVING PEOPLE WITH
WHOM HE GREW UP, CAUSING SOME BAD FEELINGS TOWARDS
HIM. HE ADDED THAT THE AREA IS FULL OF GOL
INTELLIGENCE SERVICE OPERATIVES.


6. (C) LIKE AZAR, HE STRESSED THAT JEZZINE'S EVIDENT
SECURITY RESULTED NOT FROM HIS OWN MODEST PRESENCE,
BUT FROM A "POLITICAL DECISION" BY SYRIA, HIZBALLAH,
AMAL, THE ISRAELIS, AND THE SLA. HE NOTED THAT HIS
CURRENT FORCES COULD NOT POSSIBLY COPE WITH DEMANDS
TO MAINTAIN ORDER DURING NEXT YEAR'S PARLIAMENTARY
ELECTIONS, SHOULD A DECISION BE TAKEN TO SET UP
BALLOT BOXES IN JEZZINE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE

1972.


7. (C) DESPITE ISF INADEQUACIES, USAID CONTRACTORS
SAID MOST RESIDENTS HAVE OVERCOME INITIAL FEARS
ABOUT SECURITY. AT FIRST, MANY PEOPLE WERE
RELUCTANT TO RETURN TO JEZZINE, FEARING THEIR
SAFETY. THOSE FEARS SUBSIDED AFTER A COUPLE OF
MONTHS -- THERE HAVE BEEN NO KNOWN INFILTRATIONS OF
POPULATED AREAS BY HIZBALLAH, CONTRACTORS NOTED.

THE OPPOSITION: NOT SO ROSY PICTURE


8. (C) WE MET WITH FORMER AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.
SIMON KARAM AT HIS FAMILY HOUSE IN JEZZINE. KARAM
SAID THAT JEZZINE NEEDS NORMALITY. AT PRESENT IT IS
ISOLATED FROM OTHER TOWNS. ENTRY AND EXIT IS
CONTROLLED BY GOL CHECKPOINTS. ONLY RESIDENTS OF
JEZZINE ARE PERMITTED TO ENTER. AS A RESULT,
JEZZINE IS NOT RE-INTEGRATED INTO THE NATION, YET
ITS OLD TRADING AND REVENUE LINKS TO ISRAELI
OCCUPIED SOUTH LEBANON ARE CUT. (NB: CUSTOMS
SQUADS NOW PREVENT GOODS FROM ENTERING FROM
MARJAYOUN, ENDING ONE FAMOUS JEZZINE SOURCE OF
INCOME -- SMUGGLING -- AND BRINGING BEIRUT'S SUPPLY
OF VITAL ISRAELI-SOURCED GOODS, SUCH AS CHIVAS REGAL
WHISKY, TO DANGEROUSLY LOW LEVELS.)


9. (C) KARAM EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE FAMILIES
AND WIDOWS OF SLA MILITIAMEN. MANY OF THEM ARE
DESTITUTE BECAUSE THE BREADWINNERS ARE EITHER IN
LEBANESE JAILS OR DEAD, AND SLA PAYMENTS CEASED WITH
THE EVACUATION. KARAM SAID THAT HE IS WORKING TO
ESTABLISH AN NGO TO SECURE FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR
THESE FAMILIES. HE IS WORKING TO SECURE A PARDON
FOR THE APPROXIMATELY 200 FORMER SLA MEMBERS WHO
TURNED THEMSELVES OVER TO THE GOL. AS PROMISED
PRIVATELY BY THE PRESIDENT AND HIS BROTHER,
LEBANON'S MILITARY PROSECUTOR, THE JUDICIAL PROCESS
HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT AND MOST SENTENCES LIGHT -- ONE
YEAR ON AVERAGE. (COMMENT: THIS IS ONE UNSUNG
LEBANESE CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURE, INDICATIVE OF
HOW THE BULK OF THE SLA RANK-AND-FILE MAY BE TREATED
IN THE EVENT OF AN ISRAELI PULLOUT FROM THE SOUTH.
END COMMENT.) ACCORDING TO KARAM'S FIGURES, 182 OF
THE SLA'ERS WHO SURRENDERED AT JEZZINE ARE SERVING
SENTENCES; 10 WERE FREED; AND 20 AWAIT JUDICIAL
REVIEW.


10. (C) JEZZINE'S GREEK CATHOLIC MP, NADIM SALEM,
SPOKE BITTERLY TO US ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S HANDLING
OF JEZZINE (WE CALLED ON HIM IN BEIRUT, AS HE HAS NO
HOME IN JEZZINE AND DOESN'T GET ALONG WITH ANY OF
OUR OTHER HOSTS). SALEM IS ENGAGED IN A SPECTACULAR
-- PERHAPS SUICIDAL -- FIGHT WITH SPEAKER/AMAL
MOVEMENT HEAD NABIH BERRI, SO IS HAMMERING HARD ON
POPULIST ANTI-GOVERNMENT LINES IN PREPARATION FOR
NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS. HE CONDEMNED THE TRIALS OF
SLA'ERS AS UNFAIR COMPARED TO THE OPEN-HANDED
TREATMENT OF HIZBALLAH TODAY, OR LEBANON'S OTHER
MILITIAS WHEN THEY VOLUNTARILY DISBANDED IN 1991.
HE DISMISSED THE LACK OF A STATE PRESENCE IN JEZZINE
-- WHETHER THE ARMY OR THE SERVICE MINISTRIES -- AS
IN A STATE OF SUSPENSE. THE MOTIVE: TO DISCOURAGE
FURTHER ISRAELI WITHDRAWALS AND TO KEEP ALL OPTIONS
OPEN, IN CASE DAMASCUS WANTS TO TURN THE HEAT UP ON
THE IDF/SLA IN ADJOINING AREAS.


11. (C) COMMENT: HIS ARGUMENT MAY NOT BEAR
SCRUTINY, BUT THE POINT IS THAT SOME RESIDENTS OF
JEZZINE STILL FEEL EXPOSED AND VULNERABLE. THEY ARE
PREY TO POLITICIANS LIKE SALEM WHO WILL PLAY ON THAT
MOOD -- AGGRAVATED BY CHRISTIAN JEZZINE'S SENSE OF
CONFESSIONAL ISOLATION WITHIN A MUSLIM OCEAN IN THE
SOUTH -- IF IT SERVES THEIR PURPOSES. WE EVEN
ENCOUNTERED SOME IN JEZZINE WHO WERE CONVINCED THE
AREA WAS BEING KEPT APART BY INTERNATIONAL
AGREEMENT, SO IT COULD BE EMPTIED OF ITS NATIVES TO
MAKE WAY FOR PALESTINIAN RESETTLEMENT. THE
EXISTENCE OF MYSTERIOUS, NEVER OCCUPIED APARTMENT
BUILDINGS ON THE MARCHES OF JEZZINE WERE CITED AS
SOLE EVIDENCE OF THIS PLOT. END COMMENT.

TOURISM IN JEZZINE: BACK TO THE FUTURE?


12. (C) MANY OF OUR CONTACTS BELIEVED THE REGION'S
FUTURE LIES IN ITS TRADITIONAL MONEYMAKER: TOURISM.
KARAM EXPLAINED THAT FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF
THE AUTOMOBILE TO THE MIDEAST IN THE 1930'S, RICH
PALESTINIANS AND EGYPTIANS MOTORED IN THE SUMMER TO
THE NEAREST NICE MOUNTAIN TOWN THEY COULD FIND,
JEZZINE -- GIVING BIRTH TO A TOURIST INDUSTRY. THE
ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT CUT JEZZINE OFF FROM THIS
FLOW, AND LEBANON'S CIVIL WAR AND ISRAELI OCCUPATION
"PUT THE NAIL IN THE COFFIN." A MODEST TOURIST
INFRASTRUCTURE REMAINS, AND HOTELIERS AND
RESTAURANTEURS GOT A BOOST FROM JEZZINE'S WEEK-LONG
SHOPPING FESTIVAL HELD IN AUGUST UNDER THE AUSPICES
OF THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND TRADE. THE EVENT,
HOWEVER, WAS LESS THAN SUCCESSFUL, SINCE NON-
RESIDENTS COULD NOT CROSS ARMY HURDLES AT THE
CHECKPOINTS. JEZZINE MAY NEVER AGAIN ATTRACT MIDDLE
EAST TOURISTS (ALTHOUGH KARAM, A NORMALIZATION TRUE
BELIEVER, DREAMS OF ISRAELIS DRIVING FROM TEL AVIV
TO ENJOY THE MOUNTAIN AIR IN A LIBERAL, CHRISTIAN
ENVIRONMENT). HOWEVER, THERE MAY BE A POSSIBILITY
THAT THIS UNSPOILED REGION COULD BECOME A POPULAR
SUMMER RETREAT FOR LEBANESE TOURISTS, ONCE THE GOL
LIFTS THE CHECKPOINTS AND PERMITS OTHER THAN
RESIDENTS TO VISIT JEZZINE -- AND IF, CONTRARY TO
FORM, THE LEBANESE IMPOSE ZONING TO PRESERVE NATURAL
BEAUTY.

THE USAID EXPERIENCE


13. (U) THE CURRENT MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME IN JEZZINE
IS AGRICULTURE. THE AREA PRODUCES SOME 150,000
CRATES OF APPLES PER YEAR. ABOUT TWO TONS OF
VALUABLE PINE NUTS -- A LOCAL DELICACY -- ARE
HARVESTED ANNUALLY. GRAPES ARE SOLD FOR USE IN THE
PRODUCTION OF ARAK, THE NATIONAL BEVERAGE. REVENUES
FROM AGRICULTURAL SALES BY LAW REMAIN WITH THE
MUNICIPALITY FOR LOCAL EXPENDITURE.


14. (U) IT IS IN THIS FIELD THAT USAID HAS
CONCENTRATED. WE STOPPED IN THE SUNNI VILLAGE OF
BENOUAITI, WHERE USAID FINANCED TWO IRRIGATION
PROJECTS, CONSTRUCTION OF A RETAINING WALL, A ROAD,
AND A BRIDGE. THE PROJECT IS OVERSEEN BY MERCY
CORPS INTERNATIONAL (MCI). MCI'S OFFICER IN CHARGE,
HIAM SHEDID, SAID THAT FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL,
THERE WAS NO COOPERATION AMONG THE VARIOUS VILLAGES,
AS EACH FOUGHT FOR A PIECE OF THE USAID PIE. THIS
SQUABBLING HAS SUBSIDED, AS RESIDENTS REALIZED THAT
THEY CAN BENEFIT ONLY AS A WHOLE INSTEAD OF AS
FACTIONS. BENOUATI'S MAYOR PROUDLY SHOWED OFF THE
PROJECTS IN HIS VILLAGE, AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT
RESIDENTS AT FIRST WERE SKEPTICAL THAT THE USAID
PROJECTS WOULD EVER COME TO FRUITION. THEY ARE NOW
SO ENTHUSIASTIC THAT NEIGHBORING VILLAGERS HAVE
DELUGED MERCY CORPS WITH PROPOSED PROJECTS, AND
ALREADY HAVE RAISED THE REQUIRED LOCAL MATCHING
FUNDS. EU REPRESENTATIVES FROM FRANCE, GERMANY, AND
ITALY VISITED THE REGION AND HAVE CARRIED OUT
STUDIES, BUT NONE HAVE PROGRESSED BEYOND THE REPORT
STAGE, IN CONTRAST TO WELL-KNOWN U.S. PROJECTS -- A
POINT GLEEFULLY MADE BY VIRTUALLY EVERYONE WE MET.

SATTERFIELD