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UNCLAS STATE 095932
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC IS KPAL
SUBJECT: Guidance: Middle East Consultations, September
17
1. (U) This is an action request. USUN may draw from para
2 elements when making its intervention during the
upcoming Middle East consultations in the Security
Council on September 17. The Department may send follow-
on instructions revising these elements, in order to
capture the nuance of the evolving situation; Mission
should be alert for these possible revisions.
2. (SBU) Begin elements:
I thank Under Secretary-General Pascoe for his report.
Advancing the cause of peace in the Middle East has been
a major objective of the United States. President Obama
has redoubled our commitment, seeking a comprehensive
settlement, including peace between Israel and the
Palestinians, Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon.
We are working to create the context for a prompt
resumption and early, successful conclusion of
negotiations between the parties. I cannot overemphasize
the importance of negotiations resuming as soon as
possible.
A comprehensive settlement must be based on the two-state
solution, with Israel and an independent and viable
Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security. We
look forward to meeting with all of the parties, key
members of the international community, and the Quartet
in coming weeks to uphold our shared responsibility to
advance this objective. The Quartet remains the most
effective instrument for marshaling the international
community's diplomatic efforts in support of Middle East
peace.
All parties have responsibilities to ensure progress.
For Israel, President Obama continues to urge that
settlement activity stop. As we noted on September 4,
the United States does not accept the legitimacy of
continued settlement expansion. We know that the
Secretary General shares these sentiments. We appreciate
Israel's stated intent to place limits on settlements,
and will continue to discuss this issue with Israel.
The Palestinians also have responsibilities to create the
environment for peace. These responsibilities include
continuing to improve security, ending incitement, and
dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism. They also
include refraining from actions and speech that make
negotiations more difficult, including support for one-
sided criticism of Israel in international fora. As we
approach the UN General Debate and 64th General Assembly,
we call on our Palestinian colleagues to help us to
create a healthier, less rhetorically-charged
environment.
We urge all Arab states to encourage progress in the
spirit of the Arab Peace Initiative, and call on them to
take steps towards building relations with Israel,
including modulating harsh rhetoric in international
organizations and other fora. Arab governments should
support the Palestinian Authority under President Abbas,
both politically and financially, thus helping to improve
conditions for all Palestinians throughout the West Bank
and Gaza. We are encouraged by recent calls in the
region to assist the Palestinians in fulfilling their
legitimate aspirations and for overcoming the animosities
of the past.
Israel has also begun to take steps to improve conditions
for Palestinians. It has removed key checkpoints and
eased conditions at others, and withdrawn troops to the
outskirts of four cities. If sustained and expanded,
this change should improve Palestinian freedom of
movement, economic development, and overall quality of
life. These steps should be duly noted and encouraged in
the General Assembly's discussion of the Middle East this
fall.
The Palestinian Authority has also made progress. We
welcome its development of a detailed, two-year plan to
develop institutional capacity. We hope the plan will
complement negotiations by ensuring that the institutions
of Palestinian governance will be in place to support
implementing a peace agreement. Palestinian progress on
security is also welcome. Nearly 2000 security personnel
have completed training in Jordan and are deployed in the
West Bank, with another 500 in training. Along with
efforts to promote the rule of law, this efforts helps
demonstrate that Palestine will in the future be a viable
and responsible state that serves its people and is a
good neighbor to all states in the region.
Unfortunately, Hamas' behavior continues to fall far
short of the principles outlined by the Quartet:
renunciation of violence, recognition of Israel, and
acceptance of previous agreements between the parties,
including the Roadmap. These commitments are the bedrock
of any negotiations and the only way to realize
legitimate Palestinian aspirations for statehood. If
Hamas wishes to play a constructive role, it will make
clear that it accepts these principles.
All UN members have a responsibility to prevent the
illicit arms smuggling into Gaza, lest Hamas further
restock its arsenal and spark another conflict. We
support reopening crossings with an appropriate
monitoring regime consistent with Resolution 1860 and
based on the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access.
Turning to Lebanon, we are deeply concerned about the
attacks on Friday, September 11, which were a clear
violation of the cessation of hostilities called for in
UN Security Council resolution 1701. This incident,
along with the explosion of the Hizballah weapons depot
on July 14, highlight the urgent need to bring arms in
Lebanon under control of the state and the need for the
international community to remain fully committed to
supporting UNIFIL and its mission. Regardless of the
ultimate outcome of that investigation, we remain
extremely concerned about the role that Hizballah is
playing in Lebanon and its efforts to rearm in direct
contravention of various Security Council resolutions.
The group continues to pose a threat to peace and
stability in Lebanon and the region.
With patience and determination, we can assist all people
in the region to realize the peace and stability they
deserve.
If raised (provided release of the Goldstone report to
HRC members): As a member of the Human Rights Council, we
have received a copy of Justice Goldstone?s report on the
Gaza conflict. It is a lengthy report, and we will
review it carefully. As we have stated previously, prior
to U.S. membership, the UN's Human Rights Council set
forth a one-sided and unacceptable mandate for this fact-
finding investigation. We note Justice Goldstone has
expressed his intent to cover abuses on all sides of this
conflict in an impartial fashion. We also note that the
Government of Israel is conducting its own investigations
into actions in Gaza.
End elements.
CLINTON