VZCZCXYZ0041
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMK #1476/01 2211326
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 091326Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5417
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT  PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001476 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV BA LE IS REGION POL BILAT
SUBJECT: TFLE01:  PARLIAMENTARIANS URGE U.S. INTERVENTION 
TO STOP CONFLICT IN LEBANON 
 
Classified By: CDA Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  (C) A four-member delegation representing the ad hoc 
parliamentary Committee to Support the People of Lebanon and 
Palestine called on the Charge August 6 to urge the United 
States to become more active in halting the conflict in 
Lebanon and to stop Israel from attacking civilians. 
Delegation leader Abdul Hadi Marhoon said a ceasefire would 
calm the situation and assist in finding a more permanent 
solution.  Other delegation members said Israel's actions 
could indirectly encourage extremism and terrorism in the 
region and negatively impact the U.S.-Bahrain relationship. 
They also indicated that some people are complaining about 
the recently implemented U.S.-Bahrain free trade agreement 
because of their unhappiness with U.S. policy in the region. 
The Charge emphasized that the United States was active in 
working for a solution that implemented a durable ceasefire, 
no return to the status quo ante, and expansion of Lebanese 
government authority throughout the country.  End Summary. 
 
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Stop the Fighting Now 
--------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) A delegation composed of Council of Representatives 
(COR) First Deputy Chair Abdul Hadi Marhoon and MPs Yusuf 
Zeinal, Abdul Nabi Salman, and Isa Abul Fatah called on the 
Charge August 6 to urge the U.S. to take a more active role 
in halting the conflict in Lebanon, in particular to stop 
Israel from attacking civilians.  Saying the delegation 
represented the COR ad hoc Committee to Support the People of 
Lebanon and Palestine, Marhoon said parliamentarians are most 
concerned about innocent people being killed in Lebanon and 
Palestine.  An early ceasefire would protect civilians and 
expedite finding a more permanent solution to the conflict. 
Marhoon cited the Palestinian situation as the root problem 
in the region, and asked rhetorically how Arabs can coexist 
with Israel while there is no solution to the Palestinian 
issue. 
 
¶3.  (C) Zeinal said that the Bahraini people come daily to 
members of parliament to vent their anger and frustration 
with the conflict.  They complain that parliamentarians 
should be more vocal in expressing the views of the people. 
Zeinal stated that the delegation members clearly recognize 
the strategic relationship between the United States and 
Israel, but the U.S. should intervene because "what's 
happening is against international law and Western morals." 
He asked why the United States does not stop Israel from 
targeting civilians.  By not reining in Israel or pursuing 
serious peace initiatives, the U.S. is indirectly encouraging 
extremism and possibly terrorism in the region. 
 
¶4.  (C) Salman said that people view the U.S. as "the number 
one" supporter for Israel because it is sending bombs that 
Israel uses in Lebanon.  "The U.S. is part of the war," he 
said.  Building a new Middle East should not be at the 
expense of innocent people.  Bahrainis feel that the United 
States is a good friend, but if the conflicts continue in 
Gaza and Lebanon, "we can't be as good friends with the U.S." 
as is currently the case. 
 
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U.S. Working Toward a Durable Ceasefire 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) The Charge replied that the U.S. and Bahrain have 
historically strong relations that have endured over time and 
will continue.  Regarding the current conflict, the U.S. 
opposes and condemns the loss of innocent life on all sides. 
She noted that the Secretary and senior U.S. officials were 
working closely with UN Security Council members and parties 
in the region to find a solution that would result in a 
lasting ceasefire and prevent a return to the status quo ante 
situation.  A key factor is for the Lebanese government to 
expand its authority to all areas of the country, including 
the south.  Salman responded that any durable ceasefire would 
require Israel to withdraw from Shebaa Farms.  He suggested 
that the international community use the Lebanese 
government's seven-point plan, to which Hizballah has agreed, 
as the basis for a solution. 
 
----------------------------- 
FTA Target of Some Complaints 
----------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) Turning to the impact of the conflict on the 
bilateral relationship, Marhoon said that Bahrainis "don't 
want to talk about the (recently implemented U.S.-Bahrain) 
FTA while Arabs are bleeding."  Abul Fatah stated that at his 
private majles, he hears people say "the FTA can go to hell." 
 Zeinal noted that some people wonder if the FTA is part of a 
conspiracy for Bahrain to normalize relations with Israel. 
(Note:  Although we have heard some people complain about the 
FTA because of U.S. policy in the region, on the commercial 
side, by contrast, business people are eager to benefit from 
the agreement now that it has been implemented.) 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Separately, the Bahrain On-Line chatroom August 8 
posted a letter from Marhoon to Hizballah Secretary General 
Nasrallah expressing his solidarity with Hizballah and 
congratulating the organization for its position in the face 
of Israeli aggression. 
 
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Comment 
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¶8.  (C) The ad hoc committee representatives have visited 
several G-8 embassies to make the case for a more robust 
Western response to the Lebanon conflict.  As Zeinal said, 
the group is certainly reflecting the anger of its 
constituents.  But the press releases following each of the 
committee's meetings indicate another objective important to 
committee members:  burnishing their Arab solidarity and 
foreign affairs credentials in the run-up to the fall 
parliamentary elections. 
 
 
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Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: 
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ZIADEH