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TAGS: PREL UNSC IS KPAL
SUBJECT: Guidance: Middle East Consultations, October 14
1. (U) This is an action request. USUN may draw from
para two elements when making its intervention during
the Middle East debate in the Security Council on
October 14. 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.
As we have noted in prior monthly Middle East
consultations, advancing the cause of peace in the
Middle East is among the most important objectives
President Obama has identified for our renewed
international engagement. As the President affirmed to
the General Assembly on September 23, "the time has come
to re-launch negotiations without preconditions that
address the permanent status issues: security for
Israelis and Palestinians, borders, refugees, and
Jerusalem. The goal is clear: Two states living side by
side in peace and security -- a Jewish state of Israel,
with true security for all Israelis; and a viable,
independent Palestinian state with contiguous territory
that ends the occupation that began in 1967, and
realizes the potential of the Palestinian people."
Special Envoy Mitchell has just returned from another
trip to the region, working to create the context for a
prompt resumption and early, successful conclusion of
negotiations between the parties.
I wish to place in clear contrast two dramatically
different visions for the road ahead: the road of
statehood and the road of conflict.
The Palestinian Authority and President Abbas are
constructing the basis for a viable and responsible
Palestinian state. They have been making steady and
significant progress towards that goal. We have
welcomed the PM Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad's
development of a detailed, two-year plan to develop
institutional capacity. We supported the deployment of
over 2000 Palestinian security personnel to the West
Bank, after completing their training in Jordan, with
another 500 on the way.
We have also welcomed the recent increases in economic
activity and quality of life in the West Bank. Israel
has taken constructive steps to facilitate this
progress. It has removed key checkpoints and eased
conditions at others, and withdrawn troops to the
outskirts of four cities. These initial steps taken
show that Israelis and Palestinians can make practical
progress by working together towards the same goals.
Much more needs to be done. Israel should stop
settlement activity and dismantle outposts; the United
States does not accept the legitimacy of continued
Israeli settlements. Israel should further ease access
and movement, and facilitate economic growth in the West
Bank. Palestinians should continue efforts on security,
reform of governance institutions, and ending
incitement. And all parties, including Arab states,
need to move forward to re-launch negotiations as soon
as possible.
Then there is the road of conflict. Hamas' behavior
continues to fall short of the principles long outlined
by the Quartet: renunciation of violence, recognition of
Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements between
the parties. In the month of September alone, thirteen
rockets and mortars were fired from Hamas-controlled
Gaza indiscriminately at civilian communities in Israel,
and there were dozens of other attacks along the
boundary. Terrorist attacks of this nature are not a
form of "resistance." They do represent a threat to
international peace and security, and they were the
cause of the conflict between Israel and Hamas last
winter. This path will never lead to the fulfillment of
Palestinian aspirations for an independent state.
A further danger to international peace and security,
which we note with very grave concern, is the continuing
presence of armed groups including Hizballah in Lebanon.
Armed elements, their assets, and their weapons in South
Lebanon pose a similar threat to those who work
diligently for peace and security in Lebanon. The
explosion in Tayr Filsi, taken alongside the earlier
explosion in Khirbet Salim, signals yet another weapons-
related violation of UNSCR 1701. It should be a source
of deep concern to all of us. We look forward to DPKO's
report for detailed information on this latest, serious
incident.
We continue to strongly support the full implementation
of UN Security Council Resolutions 1701 and 1559,
including their calls for all arms in Lebanon to be
brought under state control and the delineation of
Lebanon's borders. The people of Lebanon deserve to
reap the benefits of a government whose services and
authority extends throughout the land.
Lest we sow the seeds of another conflict, all UN
members must also fulfill their responsibility to
prevent the illicit arms smuggling into Gaza. We also
continue to call for the immediate release of Gilad
Shalit. At the same time, just as we defend Israel's
right to self defense, we cannot accept the continuing
humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The people of Gaza must
have hope for a better future and know that the
international community hears their concerns. We call
for a reopening of the crossings, with an appropriate
monitoring regime, to allow for the entry of legitimate
goods into Gaza.
The Report of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza
Conflict was requested by the Human Rights Council in
Geneva, and the allegations of human rights and
humanitarian law violations contained therein it are not
a matter for Security Council action. We continue to
have serious concerns about the Report, its unbalanced
focus on Israel, the overly broad scope of its
recommendations, and its sweeping conclusions of law.
Nevertheless, we take the allegations in the report
seriously. Israel has the institutions and ability to
carry out serious investigations of these allegations
and we encourage it to do so. Hamas is a terrorist
organization, and has neither the ability nor
willingness to examine its violations of human rights.
Finally, we urge all Arab states to take steps in the
spirit of the Arab Peace Initiative towards building
relations with Israel, including ceasing harsh rhetoric
in international organizations and other fora. Arab
governments can also promote progress by supporting the
Palestinian Authority under President Abbas, both
politically and financially, thus helping to improve
conditions for all Palestinians throughout the West Bank
and Gaza.
With patience and determination, we can assist all
people in the region to construct a new and better
future, and realize the peace and stability they
deserve.
End elements.
CLINTON