UN ACTION ON THE MIDDLE EAST: JORDAN LIKELY TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 007852 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2013 TAGS: PREL KPAL IS JO UNGA SUBJECT: UN ACTION ON THE MIDDLE EAST: JORDAN LIKELY TO SUPPORT PALESTINIAN RESOLUTION ON WALL/ICJ, IF PRESENTED REF: STATE 329381 Classified By: CDA David M. Hale for reasons 1.5 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) In the absence of Foreign Minister Muasher and Office Director Al-Ayed (both traveling),PolCouns December 3 delivered to Basheer Zoubi, Acting Director of the Foreign Minister's Private Office, ref points on the possible UNGA Special Session on the Middle East and a possible Palestinian draft resolution declaring Israeli non-compliance with UNGA resolutions and asking the ICJ for an advisory opinion on the Israeli separation barrier. PolCouns made clear that the U.S. strongly opposes any resolution that introduces the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into the ICJ. He requested that Jordan work to convince the Palestinians that introduction of such a resolution would be counterproductive and, if such a resolution is introduced, asked that Jordan vote against or abstain on it. ¶2. (C) Zoubi said that he understood the U.S. position and would convey it to FonMin Muasher. However, he said, absent any concrete evidence that introduction of the wall issue at the ICJ would delay dismantling of the wall or implementation of the Quartet roadmap, Jordan was likely to vote with the Arab group for such a resolution. In any case, Zoubi commented, he understood from the Jordanian Mission in New York that any special session was likely to be delayed until December 8 or 9. Visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET home page. HALE