S E C R E T TEL AVIV 003079
SUBJECT: ISRAEL FM LIVNI SAYS ISRAEL DISAPPROVES OF CURRENT DRAFT OF UN RESOLUTION
3. (S) With media representatives present, FM Livni opened the meeting by cautioning everyone not to believe what the newspapers write: "Israel is not satisfied with the draft UN resolution (1559) as it stands." After the media reps departed the room, Livni reiterated to the Assistant Secretary that Israel -- like Lebanon -- does not approve of the current draft of the resolution. Over the next hour and a half, FM Livni made repeated, impassioned appeals to the Assistant Secretary not to allow the draft UN resolution to address the long-standing Shebaa Farms territorial dispute. First, she argued that Shebaa Farms is a territorial dispute between Lebanon and Syria. As such, Israel has no right to be involved in it, and does not wish to have it placed on its bilateral agenda with Lebanon. She argued that IF/IF Shebaa Farms were returned to Lebanon in any kind of post-conflict resolution -- and Israel were implicated in the return -- then Syria might attack Israel, arguing that Israel had no right to hand the territory over to Lebanon. 4. (S) FM Livni also returned to what she said were the GOI's initial objections to addressing the Shebaa Farms issue in the first place -- that return of any disputed territory as part of a resolution to the current conflict would be tantamount to rewarding aggression. Hizballah, she claimed, would grow stronger,... Asking for five minutes to lay out the Israeli position on Shebaa Farms, Livni continued: "In past discussions between Israel and the U.S., it was clear that Shebaa Farms would be the end of a process -- full implementation of (UNSCR) 1559. Now, it is being put as something to start with! I am so fed up with weak leaders who want to get something good without implementing their deals." She wondered aloud what would happen next -- perhaps Hizballah would press for return of the West Bank? Pounding the table, Livni said, "Surely the U.S. and other Western governments are not naive enough to believe Hizballah's statements that it exists because of Shebaa Farms. Iran is the reason why Hizballah exists. Iran, Syria, the Palestinians and Hamas are watching us. We will be sending the wrong message. They will see that they get something by killing Israelis. I do not care about Siniora's 'blah blah' about how this is something for him. If Shebaa Farms are returned to Lebanon, Hizballah will merely take up another cause. It exists solely to advocate for and execute the destruction of Israel...." One could, she said, imagine a scenario in which Shebaa Farms were returned, and then the weak Siniora government decides not to take action on any of its "obligations," including complete execution of UNSCR 1559. 6. (S) Livni stressed that prior to the outbreak of the fighting, there was a series of UNSCRs that concerned Lebanon: 425 (Israel's withdrawal behind a UN-mandated line), 1559 (disarmament of militias) and 1680 (calling on Syria to delimit its borders with Lebanon). Accepting Assistant Secretary Welch's clarification that expectations laid out in 1559 were not "obligations" set on Lebanon's government, Livni nonetheless argued that .. Shebaa Farms will be dealt with only after 1559 is fully implemented."....
9. (S) The Assistant Secretary shared with Livni the results of his August 4-5 meetings in Lebanon Specifically, he told FM Livni that: -- Berri sees himself as able to represent Shia interests, and is willing, but does not feel obligated, to do so. He is providing considerable help to PM Siniora, who relies upon him to keep the Shia in line with the GOL. Berri indicated his willingness to be an intermediary to Hizballah ... -- Jumblat claimed that the IDF is not making much headway against Hizballah and needs to keep up pressure on the group. All of the Assistant Secretary's interlocutors understood that it is helpful to have Hizballah "militarily pressured."... -- Like the Israelis, the Lebanese are not happy with the lead role France has appointed itself in organizing the MNF. -- All said that they cannot ask for or approve a multinational force under a Chapter 7 mandate, but can accept one if it is imposed on Lebanon. They are planning for the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) immediately upon withdrawal of the IDF -- even if the MNF is not yet in place. Berri implied that Hizballah would agree, and volunteered to personally lead a vanguard of 10,000-15,000 troops into the south. .... PM Siniora and wants the bulk of Muslim MNF troops to be Sunni. -- All accept that there should be no arms in the area of operations except those held by the LAF and MNF. .. -- All agreed that Iran and Syria want to continue the fight.
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