US embassy cable - 99BEIRUT4484

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