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Cablegate: Guidance for January 30 Unsc Consultations On The

Published: Wed 30 Jan 2008 12:15 AM
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SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR JANUARY 30 UNSC CONSULTATIONS ON THE
MIDDLE EAST
REF: DE OTALVARO/PHEE E-MAIL OF 18 JAN 08
1. (SBU) USUN is instructed to draw from the points in
paras. 2-9 below in making its statement at the January 30
UNSC debate on the Middle East. Please select the point
in para. 2 that describes the outcome of the discussion on
the PRST on Gaza, and follow with the rest of the points
in para. 3 et. seq. For additional details on the four
tracks for the political process launched at Annapolis,
the Lebanon tribunal, and the elections in Lebanon, refer
to ref e-mail.
2. (SBU) Begin Points: If we achieve required changes to
PRST and can join consensus:
"Mr. President, I want to thank you for your leadership
during the discussions on the situation in the Middle East
last week, which resulted in a Presidential Statement upon
which we could all agree. It is clear that all on this
Council share a deep concern over the situation in Gaza.
We are concerned about the ongoing and unacceptable firing
of rockets and mortars into Israel from Gaza. We are also
concerned about the economic and humanitarian situation in
Gaza, recognizing the importance of continued humanitarian
access and assistance, and welcoming Israel's commitment
to minimize the impact of its actions on innocent
civilians there."
If other states do not agree with us on PRST and we have
to break consensus on it:
"We regret that the Council was unable to reach a
consensus on a Presidential Statement on the Middle East.
The draft statement was unbalanced, placing demands on
Israel while failing to call on Hamas to cease its acts of
provocation and take the steps necessary to achieve
genuine progress towards realizing the vision of two
democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living
side-by-side in peace and security."
3. (SBU) "Terror groups in Gaza continue to target
innocent Israeli citizens with rocket fire on a daily
basis. This rocket fire is unacceptable and it must stop.
Hamas, having violently and illegitimately seized power in
Gaza last June, bears responsibility for putting an end to
this and other terror activities in and emanating from
Gaza, which pose a danger to Israel and undermine the
aspirations of the Palestinian people and the efforts of
their legitimate government. Most recently, Hamas
orchestrated attacks on the border between Gaza and Egypt,
resulting in tens of thousands of Gazans surging into
Egypt in an uncontrolled manner, destabilizing the region
by potentially facilitating access for terrorists into
Egypt and the transfer of armaments into Gaza.
4. (SBU) Clearly Hamas' actions are at odds with the
Palestinian people's aspirations for freedom and
statehood. A Palestinian state will never be born of
terror and violence. These aspirations can only be
realized through negotiations and peaceful means. We call
upon Hamas to end the daily rocket attacks on Israel from
Gaza and relinquish its illegitimate control of Gaza to
the Palestinian Authority, under the legitimate leadership
of President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad. In the
meantime, we will not abandon the people of Gaza. We will
continue to provide humanitarian aid to help meet the
basic needs of Gazans, and we continue to view Gaza as an
integral part of a future Palestinian state.
5. (SBU) These troubling developments will not discourage
the United States' commitment to President Bush's vision
of two states living side-by-side in peace and security,
and should not discourage the Council from its commitment
to the long-term goal of establishing a Palestinian state
that is peaceful, democratic, and viable.
6. (SBU) Israel and the Palestinians are forging ahead
with the political process launched at Annapolis, and the
United States and other members of this Council and the
Quartet must continue to support their efforts. As
President Bush said in Jerusalem, we are working to
support progress on four tracks.
7. (SBU) Mr. President, we hope that the momentum from
reaching an agreement on Roadmap implementation in
Annapolis, and achieving financial support for Palestinian
institution building and economic reform in Paris, will
continue to build and give way to the creation of a
Palestinian state that is a homeland for the Palestinian
people, just as Israel is a homeland for the Jewish
people.
8. (SBU) Turning to Lebanon, the U.S. strongly condemns
the terrorist bombing in Beirut last week that killed
Lebanese Internal Security Forces Captain Wissam Eid and
many other Lebanese. We extend our condolences to the
families of the innocent Lebanese killed in this brutal
attack. This bombing, the latest in a series of terrorist
attacks targeting those who are working to secure
Lebanon's independence and sovereignty, is a part of the
continuing assault on Lebanon's institutions.
9. (SBU) Like the previous assassinations and bombings,
this was an attack on Lebanon's democracy and on all those
working to secure Lebanon's unity, independence, and
prosperity. The United States will not falter in our
support for the
democratically-elected Lebanese government. We appreciate
the UN's efforts to rapidly stand up the Special Tribunal
for Lebanon, which will hold accountable those responsible
for the assassination of Former Prime Minister Hariri and
other related crimes. We urge members of the Council and
UN member states to provide financial assistance to allow
the Tribunal to continue its important work. Finally, we
renew our call for the immediate election of a new
President in accordance with Lebanon's constitution and
call upon Syria, Iran, and their allies end their
interference in and obstruction of Lebanon's democratic
process.
RICE
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