VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMK #1317/01 2001324
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 191324Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5260
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT  PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001317 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER BA REGION POL
SUBJECT: TFLE01: PUBLIC PROTESTS, EMOTIONAL STATEMENTS ON 
LEBANON 
 
REF: A. MANAMA 1305 
     ¶B. MANAMA 1288 
 
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  (C) Between five and 15 thousand men, women, and children 
marched July 18 to express their support for Lebanon and 
Hizballah.  Protesters chanted pro-Hizballah and 
anti-American statements.  Leading Shia political society 
Secretary General Shaikh Ali Salman spoke at the rally 
 
SIPDIS 
stating that Israel targets civilians, while Hizballah 
targets military sites.  A pre-march release from the Council 
of Islamic Clerics (Shia) demanded pressure on Israel to 
cease the attacks on Lebanon.  It regretted some Arab and 
Islamic reactions that have described the "Islamic 
resistance" as a "miscalculated adventure."  In a July 18 
meeting with journalists, Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid said 
that Israel should compensate Lebanon for the damage and loss 
of life and called on super powers to commit themselves to 
finding a just and viable peace.  With an eye clearly to his 
domestic (majority Shia) audience, he said the world can 
blame Hizballah's misjudgment but cannot doubt its loyalty 
and good intentions.  Comment: While the government would 
welcome a weakening of Hizballah, it is watching with 
apprehension as the latest events send the country's Shia 
into the streets with Hizballah banners.  End summary. 
 
--------------------------- 
The Public Hits the Streets 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) Estimates of between five and 15 thousand people, 
including a large number of clerics, representatives of 
political (Shia and Sunni) and civil society groups, women 
and children, gathered and marched near downtown Manama July 
18 to express their solidarity with Lebanon and Hizballah. 
Protesters carried a wide range of flags including those of 
Lebanon, Palestine, Hizballah, Iran, and Bahrain.  Protesters 
also carried pictures of Hizballah leader Hasan Nasrallah and 
banners that read "Down with Israel" and chanted the slogans 
"God Bless Nasrallah," "Hizballah is the Victor," and "Death 
to America."  A spokesperson from Wa'ad political society 
(secular) stated, "We must stand with Lebanon.  We will 
support Hizballah by donating five percent of our salaries 
(to them)." 
 
¶3.  (U) At the protest, leading Shia political society Al 
Wifaq Secretary General Shaikh Ali Salman spoke to the crowd 
saying that statements from the U.S. administration and the 
international community represent a political setback for 
resolving developments in the region.  He stated that 
Israel's war focuses on killing civilians by targeting 
school, hospitals, Islamic community centers, while Hizballah 
targets military sites and makes efforts to stay away from 
civilian locations.  Israel is trying to pull Iran and Syria 
into the conflict, but "these two countries have nothing to 
do with the tension."  Shaikh Ali pledged that demonstrations 
would continue until captives are released and all Arab lands 
are liberated. 
 
¶4.  (U) A statement released by the Council of Islamic 
Clerics (Shia) distributed prior to the march, demanded that 
the UN Security Council and the international community put 
pressure on the "Zionist entity" to cease military actions. 
It also demanded that the international community denounce 
American and British diplomatic efforts to protect Israel's 
right to self defense and to prevent condemnation of Israel. 
The release expressed regret at official Arab and Islamic 
statements that describe the "Islamic resistance" as a 
"miscalculated adventure," claiming that these statements 
incite the public. 
 
--------------------------- 
The FM Talks with the Press 
--------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) In a meeting with journalists at the Correspondents 
Club July 18, Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al 
Khalifa said that Israel's actions in Lebanon and Palestine 
were a flagrant violation of international law and human 
rights.  He advocated Israel's compensating Lebanon for the 
loss of civilian life, damage to the infrastructure, and 
losses to the national economy.  He called for an immediate 
cease-fire and exchange of prisoners and urged the super 
powers to be committed to a just and viable peace in the 
 
Middle East, establishing an independent Palestinian state 
with Jerusalem as its capital. 
 
¶6.  (U) When asked about Hizballah, Shaikh Khalid said that 
this was an internal matter and the Lebanese government would 
deal with it.  Hizballah is like any Arab party that calls 
for the liberation of Arab lands.  He added, "The Arab world 
can blame the misjudgment of Hizballah but cannot doubt its 
good intentions and loyalty to Lebanon and the region." 
Asked about Saudi influence on Bahraini statements and 
actions toward Lebanon, the FM said, "Bahrain is an 
independent country and is not influenced by others.  Our 
rejection of the war on Lebanon is based on our beliefs as 
well as obligations toward all Arab countries." 
 
¶7.  (U) The FM downplayed rumors of arguments between Arab 
foreign ministers in Cairo July 15, saying that although 
there were disagreements on some matters, "different opinions 
always enrich deliberations."  Regarding Yemen's offer to 
host an Arab summit, Shaikh Khalid said that leaders were 
discussing the matter to determine what outcomes might 
result, and that Bahrain was ready to participate provided 
concrete objectives could be realized. 
 
---------------------------------- 
Well-known Businessman Goes Public 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (U) Wealthy Shia businessman (and Al-Wifaq member) Faisal 
Hassan Jawad took out a half page advertisement in Arabic 
daily Al Wasat in which he released the following statement. 
"I add my voice to those of the sons of our Arab and Islamic 
nations, in denouncing the international and regional silence 
over the crisis of the Lebanese people.  I appeal to the Arab 
and Muslim countries to withdraw their ambassadors from 
America and the European Union in condemnation of the savage 
attacks in Lebanon that are reaching innocent civilians 
without mercy." 
 
----------------------- 
GOB Donation to Lebanon 
----------------------- 
 
¶9.  (U) Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa 
issued a directive July 18 to donate five million Bahraini 
dinars ($13.3 million) to a fund that will support Lebanese 
victims of Israeli attacks.  The PM affirmed Bahrain's full 
support to Lebanon. 
 
---------------- 
Columns Continue 
---------------- 
 
¶10.  (U) Columnist Sayed Zahra of Akhbar Al Khaleej wrote 
July 19 that statements by Secretary Rice and other 
high-level officials indicate that a cease-fire should only 
be declared after Hizballah and other groups are no longer 
capable of threatening Israel.  This shows the super powers' 
bias in allowing Israel time to eliminate the resistance 
without considering the massacre of the Lebanese people. 
Columnist Aqeel Swar calls attention in his commentary to the 
sense of defeat that will be felt by the Arab peoples if 
Israel wins the war. 
 
¶11.  (C)  Comment:  While the government clearly would 
welcome a weakening of Hizballah, which would also mark a 
setback for Iran in its regional aspirations, it is also 
watching with some apprehension as the Israeli attacks on 
Hizballah galvanize the country's Shia majority population. 
Not only are prominent Shia political leaders like Shaikh Ali 
Salman and leading Shia businessmen like Faisal Jawad taking 
up the Hizballah banner, but Shia are once again taking to 
the streets carrying pictures of Hassan Nasrallah and waving 
the yellow Hizballah flags.  Because the issue is Israeli 
attacks on Hizballah as well as the reported destruction of 
Lebanese infrastructure, it is more difficult for the 
government to react strongly against this latest 
manifestation of Shia activism. 
 
********************************************* ******** 
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ 
********************************************* ******** 
MONROE